'Totally inappropriate': McConnell condemns investigation of Supreme Court ethics scandals

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., had sharp words for Senate Democrats Tuesday, calling their latest efforts in the investigation of Supreme Court ethics scandals "completely and totally inappropriate."

Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said Monday the committee would subpoena three donors connected to the lavish vacations taken by justices at the center of Democrats' probe.

McConnell criticized the move as unjustified.

"What he's targeting here is private citizens, with no legislative purpose," McConnell told reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday.

Democrats said they will subpoena Harlan Crow, a billionaire behind years of expensive gifts and travel accepted by Justice Clarence Thomas, along with donors Robin Arkley and Leonard Leo. Arkley, a mortgage company owner, hosted Justice Samuel Alito on a 2008 Alaska fishing trip, and Leo is associated with multiple undisclosed trips by justices.

Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee joined McConnell in blasting the subpoenas, including Republican Lindsey Graham of South Carolina who said he was "very disappointed" by the news.

"It’s a bad idea," Graham said Tuesday. "I think it's got all kinds of constitutional issues."