Day 45: Trump’s Wiretapping Tirade Has Tongue Tied Congressional Republicans
Donald Trump’s paranoid-delusional Saturday morning tirades have bothered many of his closest allies in Congress.
Marco Rubio, who spent a few days with Trump and flew down to Florida on Air Force One with him, has already distanced himself from the president.
Sen. Marco Rubio said Sunday he had seen “no evidence” to back up Trump’s wiretap claims. Rubio is a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, which is investigating Trump’s ties to Russia and has received classified briefings on the issue.
“I’d imagine the president and the White House in the days to come will outline further what was behind that accusation,” the Florida Republican said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “The president put that out there, and now the White House will have to answer as to exactly what he was referring to.”
The president put it out there and now the White House will have to answer. Nowhere in that phrase does Rubio acknowledge Congress’ role in getting within 50 miles of Trump on this one.
Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ben Sasse (R-NE) also put the onus on the White House.
Rubio’s comments came a day after Nebraska GOP Sen. Ben Sasse, a longtime Trump critic, said Trump owed it to the public to share more details about his allegation. Other Republican lawmakers who have clashed with Trump made similar demands for more information.
“It would be more helpful if he turned over to the intelligence committee any evidence that he has,” said Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Even longtime stanch Trump defender Tom Cotton (R-AR) distanced himself, saying, “It doesn’t mean that none of these things have happened, just means I haven’t seen them yet.”
Lindsey Gramam (R-SC) spoke out immediately and forcefully regarding Trump’s insinuations, stating, “I’m very worried that our president is suggesting that the former president has done something illegally.”
Senate Intelligence Committee chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) denied comment. Other prominent Republicans, such as Paul Ryan (R-WI), Jason Chaffetz (R-UT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Rand Paul (R-KY), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), John McCain (R-AZ) and more have largely remained silent on the tweeter-in-chief’s most recent comments.
NBC News succinctly noted: “In general, few Republicans of note mentioned the news.”
Fair to say, the Russia stories aren’t going away any time soon. Ever-cautious politicians don’t want to loudly be on the wrong side of the story, especially when Donald Trump is writing it.
45 days in, 1417 to go
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