Rand Paul slams Mitch McConnell for 'secret deal' with Biden to secure judicial nominee

Sen. Rand Paul on Monday criticized his fellow Kentucky Republican Senate counterpart, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, for creating a "secret deal with the White House" by attempting to secure a judicial nominee for the Bluegrass state.

President Joe Biden came under fire last month for planning to nominate pro-life attorney Chad Meredith to become a judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky. The nomination came as part of a reported deal in exchange for McConnell not stopping future Biden judicial nominations.

The White House blamed Sen. Paul last week for preventing the nomination, The Hill reported. The executive branch claimed Paul did not return a "blue slip," which would have given his approval of the nominee from his home state.

Paul disputed the accusation and roasted McConnell on Tuesday in a tweet. 

"I support Chad Meredith and supported him when he was considered for a different position. I think he would make a good judge. Unfortunately, instead of communicating and lining up support for him, Senator McConnell chose to cut a secret deal with the White House that fell apart," he wrote.

Meredith's nomination was especially controversial, given the Supreme Court's decision to overrule Roe v. Wade last month.