Article Summary –
GOP Rep. Mike Turner has stated that Russian propaganda, including anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages, is being spread among House Republicans and even spoken on the House floor. Turner and House Foreign Relations Committee Chair Michael McCaul expressed concern over the influence of Russian propaganda within the GOP, tying Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, to other authoritarian leaders including China’s Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un. At the same time, they advocated for Congress to approve increased military aid for Ukraine, as they believe the expansion of authoritarian rule poses a threat to global democracy.
Republican Representatives Address Russian Propaganda in the House
Republican Rep. Mike Turner expressed concern on Sunday about the influence of Russian propaganda among his House Republican colleagues, suggesting it’s being echoed on the House floor. Turner, chair of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, cited anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages stemming from Russia.
He noted instances where members of Congress incorrectly attribute the conflict between Russia and Ukraine to NATO issues. Turner didn’t specify which Congress members he was referencing. His remarks follow those of House Foreign Relations Committee Chair Michael McCaul, who recently warned about the pervasive impact of Russian propaganda within the GOP.
McCaul, a Texas Republican, expressed his belief that Russian propaganda has infiltrated the United States, influencing a significant portion of the Republican base. Both Turner and McCaul related Russia and Vladimir Putin to other authoritarian leaders, like China’s Xi Jinping and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.
Turner emphasized that propaganda complicates the recognition of the struggle as a democracy versus authoritarianism issue. McCaul shared his efforts in conveying the threat of Russian propaganda in terms comparable with threats from other U.S. adversaries.
Both committee chairs also highlighted the urgency for Congress to approve more military aid to Ukraine. Turner stressed Ukraine’s immediate need for U.S. help and the critical role of Congress in providing this aid. However, recent attempts to pass Ukraine aid through the House have been stalled, with Speaker Mike Johnson refusing to put forward a Senate-approved aid package.
Rep. Don Bacon and Rep. French Hill have expressed confidence in Johnson bringing Ukraine aid to the floor soon, following the completion of work on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). However, Bacon also suggested Johnson could face a vote to remove him from the speakership if he progresses with Ukraine aid.
Turner disputed the likelihood of Johnson’s position being compromised over Ukraine aid, referring to those causing disruption in Congress as the ‘chaos caucus.’ Meanwhile, it has been suggested Democrats could support Johnson’s speakership if a motion to vacate, such as the one recently filed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, were put to a vote.
Read More US News
This article may have been created with the assistance of AI.
Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Please see our republishing guidelines for use of photos and graphics.
