Joe Manchin profanely denies report that he's plotting to leave Democrats

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) profanely denied a report that he is plotting an exit from the Democratic Party if his demands on the proposed Democratic budget reconciliation bill are not met.

Speaking with CNN's Manu Raju on Capitol Hill, Manchin called the report "bullsh*t" and added that "I have no control of rumors."

Manchin leaving the Democrats would tip control of the Senate back to Republicans if he also decided to caucus with the GOP.

The West Virginia senator has been a major thorn in the side of Democrats' plans to pass a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package, although it's not clear that he would necessarily be welcomed by the Republican Party given that he twice voted to convict former President Donald Trump at both of his impeachment trials.

Mother Jones' David Corn reported on Wednesday afternoon that if Democrats did not meet his demands to significantly cut their reconciliation package, "he would declare himself an 'American Independent and he has devised a detailed exit strategy for his departure."