Schumer ‘poisoned the well’ over debt limit, McConnell says in insult-laden letter

• Republican leader lashes out in letter and call to Biden
• Senate GOP sows disinformation after debt ceiling deal

Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, sought to fight his way out of a corner on Friday by releasing an angry letter in which he blamed Democrats for the impasse over the debt ceiling he broke by ending a refusal to co-operate he had said was absolute.

In the letter to Joe Biden, McConnell complained about a speech in which the Democratic majority leader, Chuck Schumer, attacked Republicans for their behaviour.