'Shackles are off' as Mitch McConnell sends Trump 'a signal': CNN's Manu Raju

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was the lone Republican in the Senate to vote against Tulsi Gabbard to be America's director of national intelligence, and he issued a scathing statement afterward that described her as a national security risk.

CNN's Manu Raju told host Dana Bash on Wednesday that McConnell broke dramatically with his colleagues in calling out what he believed was Gabbard's unfitness to serve as DNI.

"[McConnell] said, explaining his vote against her, he said the nation should not have to worry that the intelligence assessments the president receives are tainted by a director of national intelligence with a history of alarming lapses in judgment," reported Raju. "He goes on to cite her past comments about Edward Snowden and about Russia and the like, and he said that he called her a quote, unnecessary risk for this position."

ALSO READ: 'Shakedown': Alarm raised over traffic stops that net Texas County, OK, millions

Raju then said that that this may be a sign of things to come from McConnell, who was also one of three Republicans to vote against Pete Hegseth's confirmation to be secretary of defense.

"When he was leader, he was okay taking the arrows for his party, taking unpopular positions, even if he perhaps didn't ultimately believe that that was the way he personally felt," Raju explained. "But now he has said his shackles are off, that he's no longer the Republican leader. As you can see, he's sending a signal to President Trump."

Watch the video below or at this link.

- YouTubewww.youtube.com