Ashley Judd, Senator Mitch McConnell at Odds Over Leaked Tape
Ashley Judd has acknowledged reports that Senator Mitch McConnell's aids probed into her personal life as means to attack her this week.
The actress was believed to have plans for running as a Democrat for McConnell's Senate seat in 2016, but the "Double Jeopardy" star ultimately decided not to pursue candidacy.
Before her decision not to run, a tape detailing McConnell's research on Judd was released. In it, McConnell and his aides discussed several aspects of Judd's personal life, including one person calling the actress "extremely unbalanced."
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Furthermore, the senator and campaign aides speculate over the possibility of advertisements and statements to skew the public's opinion of Judd, according to The Wrap.
Learning of the leaked tape, Judd deemed the conspiratorial act "politics of personal destruction" in a statement on Tuesday.
"This is yet another example of the politics of personal destruction that embody Mitch McConnell and are pervasive in Washing, D.C.," said Judd in a statement, according to Yahoo! News.
"We expected nothing less from the Mitch McConnell and his camp to take a personal struggle such as depression, which many Americans cope with on a daily basis, and turn it into a laughing matter," the actress added.
Judd was rumored to be considering a political career in Kentucky in 2016, when Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand. Paul would be up for re-election.
The actress' mother, Naomi Judd, furthered the rumors last year, saying her daughter is "very interested in changing the world" during an interview with Larry King.
"As of right now, she doesn't know," said Judd during the interview on the digital channel Ora TV. "I can tell you she's very interested in changing the world and she know that politics unfortunately right now is one of the ways she could do that."
Alas, Judd announced her decision about running for the post on Twitter last month.
"After serious and thorough contemplation, I realize that my responsibilities & energy at this time need to be focused on my family," the actress wrote. "Regretfully, I am currently unable to consider a campaign for the Senate."
