Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer Announces Plans To Rename Senate Building After John McCain

On Saturday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced his plans to have the Russell Senate Office Building renamed after Senator John McCain (R-AZ), who passed away on Saturday.

McCain, 81, died after a battle with glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. His office was located within the Russell building.

The official website of the United State Senate notes that the Russell Senate Office Building was named after Richard Brevard Russell, Jr., who served in the body for 38 years:

In 1972 the Senate named the Old Senate Office Building after Senator Richard Brevard Russell, Jr., a Democrat from Georgia who had served from 1933 to 1971. Respected as a “senator’s senator,” Russell chaired the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Appropriations Committee, and served as president pro tempore. A statue of Senator Russell stands in the Russell Building rotunda.

However, according to records, Russell was a white supremacist and a proponent of racial segregation.

On Sunday, Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) appeared on CNN and echoed Schumer, saying that it would be “an excellent idea” to honor John McCain by offering his name to the Russell Building.