McConnell defends civil rights record after 'inadvertent' comment sparks backlash - CNN

"This outrageous mischaracterization of my record as a result of leaving one word out inadvertently the other day, which I just now supplied to you, is deeply offensive," the Kentucky Republican said Friday in Louisville.

On Wednesday, at his weekly policy news conference at the US Capitol, McConnell was asked whether voters of color would be hurt if Democrats' election legislation did not pass, and he replied: "The concern is misplaced, because if you look at the statistics, African American voters are voting in just as high a percentage as Americans."

He again misspoke on Friday and incorrectly stated what the omitted word had been and had to come back to the mics to clean it up again.

I have had African American speechwriters, schedulers, office managers over the years."

In his remarks at an event called the "Kentuckians for Better Transportation's annual conference," McConnell also touted the bipartisan infrastructure law on Friday, saying how it's "a big deal" for his state, and reiterated how "proud" he is of his vote for the legislation, despite taking "a little heat for it" from former President Donald Trump.

McConnell said that "regretfully" he was the only Republican in the Kentucky delegation who voted for the infrastructure bill.