Trump-Russia GOP meltdown: John McCain accuses Rand Paul of “working for Vladimir Putin”
As it becomes more clear by the day that Donald Trump may eventually have to be ousted over his Russia scandal, suffice it to say that the Republicans in the Senate aren’t handling the pressure all that well as they try to belatedly get out ahead of the impending avalanche. Over the past two days various Republican Senators have begun threatening the Executive Branch of their own party, and as of today, one of them is specifically accusing his fellow GOP Senator of being on Russia’s payroll.
The fireworks began when Republican Senator Lindsey Graham grew frustrated at his inability to get any information regarding Donald Trump’s false claim that President Obama had wiretapped Trump Tower. Graham finally resorted to threatening to subpoena the FBI, and it’s still not clear if he’s gotten his way. Meanwhile his colleague Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is so frustrated with the lack of Trump-Russia updates that he’s vowing to hold up a Department of Justice nominee until it allows the FBI to properly brief him on the Trump-Russia investigation. But that’s just the beginning of the fireworks.
After Republican Senator Rand Paul spoke up against the addition of Montenegro to NATO today, CBS News reports that his fellow Republican Senator John McCain flat out accused Paul of “working for Vladimir Putin.” McCain didn’t elaborate or offer any specific evidence to support his claim, so it doesn’t appear he’s accusing his fellow GOP Senator of literally being on the Kremlin’s payroll, and meant it more in the metaphorical sense. But it’s still historically jarring to hear one Senator say such a thing about a fellow Senator, particularly within the same party. It seems the entire GOP is cracking up under the Trump-Russia pressure. Contribute to Palmer Report
Bill Palmer is the publisher of the political news outlet Palmer Report