New Republic: Have Russian operatives paid any Republican officials?

[LessAspin]

As new stories keep coming out about Russia buying European and Canadian lawmakers

The New Republic asked this question back in April..

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CONNECT THE DOTS

Russia Is Buying Politicians in Europe. Is It Happening Here Too?
A former CIA officer explains how a vast, pro-Putin corruption network uncovered in Europe is a warning sign for the U.S.

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“I think Russian propaganda has made its way into the United States, unfortunately, and it’s infected a good chunk of my party’s base,” Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told Puck’s Julia Ioffe last week. Representative Mike Turner, chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, went further, telling CNN’s Jake Tapper a few days later, “We see directly coming from Russia attempts to mask communications that are anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages, some of which we even hear being uttered on the House floor.”

Which Republicans might they be referring to? Representative Ken Buck didn’t hesitate to point a finger at Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, saying on Monday, “Moscow Marjorie is focused now on this Ukraine issue and getting her talking points from the Kremlin and making sure that she is popular and she is getting a lot of coverage.”

They’re saying aloud what they once whispered behind closed doors. Back in 2016, when he was a Republican congressman but not yet House speaker, Kevin McCarthy said in a private meeting with GOP leaders, “There’s two people, I think, Putin pays: [Representative Dana] Rohrabacher and Trump … swear to God.” (Rohrabacher, once dubbed “Putin’s favorite congressman,” lost his seat in 2018.)

McCarthy, confronted with the leaked audio in 2017, claimed it was a joke. But anyone paying attention to how Russian intelligence services run influence operations—which I do, as a former CIA officer—knows it is anything but. It raises a legitimate, and deadly serious, question: Have Russian operatives paid any Republican officials?

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https://newrepublic.com/article/180630/russia-corruption-network-europe-buying-politicians-america

[Deep State Witch]

1. The Question Is Not "Are They Buying Republicans"

It's "how many Republicans have they bought?" Starting with TFG on down through Moscow Mitch, Tuberville, Lindsay Graham, Ted Cruz, etc. Pretty much the entire Free-Dumb Caucus.

[Walleye]

2. Who knows what Russia is offering them. But they are repeating Russian propaganda Word for Word. Tommy Tuberville

As a child of the Cold War I really can’t believe what I’m hearing coming out of the Republicans now

[BComplex]

4. Every republican telegraphs constantly that they are for sale.

And for russia, that's music to their ears! I came up through nuclear bomb drills in school. These russian-republican fans are friggin' crazy. Batshit crazy! They'll get in bed with whomever waves a dollar bill in the air.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Wow, these are the slowest dot connectors I have ever seen.

Taken the CIA this long to figure out something so clearly obvious, years ago.

[BComplex]

5. I know! Right? Um....did the CIA get to read the un-redacted Muller report?

They're a little late, or they just haven't paid any attention.

[Irish_Dem]

6. We don't know which CIA and FBI agents work for the US or Putin.

[ThoughtCriminal]

7. Or blackmailing

With the GOP, Russian operatives have found a target-rich environment of easily exploited greed and perversion.

[mopinko]

9. a little bit of both.

been sick fuck’s m.o. forevah.

[2naSalit]

8. After all these years...

How is that even a fucking question?

[calimary]

10. Nothing surprises me anymore, especially about Republicans.

They’re so lowlife that they stoop all the way down into Hell.

[Scrivener7]

11. Does a bear shit in the woods?

I mean, honestly. Are we really asking this as if it's a question?