House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-OH) said Russian propaganda is being used by House Republicans.
Transcript via CNN’s State Of The Union:
TAPPER: Let’s turn to Ukraine, an important issue for you and your fellow Republican Chairman Michael McCaul, who heads the Foreign Affairs Committee.
Congressman McCaul made a comment this week about what he says sounds like Russian propaganda from some conservative media and why it is so difficult to explain to Republican voters why supporting Ukraine matters. He told Julia Ioffe – and I quote – “I think Russian propaganda has made its way into the United States, unfortunately, and has infected a good portion of my party’s base.”
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He singled out prime-time shows on conservative channels. Do you agree with him? And how big is this problem?
TURNER: Oh, that’s absolutely true.
We see attempts to disguise communications coming directly from Russia that are anti-Ukrainian and pro-Russian messages, some of which we even hear uttered in the Chamber.
I mean, there are members of Congress today who still erroneously say that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine is about NATO, which, of course, is not true, given that Vladimir Putin has made it very clear, both publicly and to his own people, that his view is that this is a conflict related to a much broader Russian claim to Eastern Europe, including the claim of all Ukrainian territory as Russia’s property.
To the extent that this propaganda takes hold, it becomes harder for us to really see it as a battle between authoritarians and democrats, which is what it is. President Xi of China and Vladimir Putin himself have identified it as such. We must defend democracy. We need to make sure we know that authoritarian regimes never stop when they start aggression.
Ukraine needs our help and assistance now, and this is a very critical time for the United States Congress to step up and provide that help.
Video:
House Intelligence Committee Chairman Republican Mike Turner (OH) “We see attempts coming directly from Russia to disguise communications that are anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages, some of which we even hear uttered in the House.” pic.twitter.com/XrHVlKZ6rC
– Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) April 7, 2024
Congressman Turner tirelessly pushed President Mike Johnson to introduce an aid bill to Ukraine in the House. Turner went on to say in the CNN interview that he doesn’t think Johnson is in any danger from Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene’s vacate motion, because Hakeem Jeffries and House Democrats have already said they won’t join a vacate motion as long as Johnson passes a bill on aid to Ukraine.
Johnson has been trying to find ways to showcase the Ukraine aid bill, but it seems increasingly likely that he will challenge Greene to try to fire him by passing a Ukraine aid bill.
House Republicans use Russian propaganda almost daily. Russian propaganda is at the heart of Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer’s Biden impeachment investigation.
Republicans like Mike Turner are raising the alarm that their party has been compromised by Russian propaganda, which is why it is up to the American people to reject Putin’s party.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a member of the White House press pool and a congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a bachelor’s degree in political science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
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