Many Republicans have been extremely hesitant about supporting the investigation into the connections between President Trump’s campaign and Russia. It seems, though, that their reasoning for this resistance has less to do with their faith in Trump and more to do with their eagerness to hide their own Russia ties.
Thanks to the hard work of Democratic pundit Scott Dworkin, it’s beginning to look like every Republican politician has some kind of link to Russia.
Over the last few months, Dworkin has revealed that several Republican senators — including John McCain, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio — have accepted money from Russian donors. He produced evidence of even more connections earlier this week that have been shared by Palmer Report.
On Sunday, Dworkin found documents that link Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to a super PAC that accepted $2.5 million from a “pro-Putin Ukrainian businessman.” He shared photos of the documents on Twitter:
‘#TrumpLeaks Docs: Mitch McConnell linked super PAC took $2.5 million from a pro-Putin Ukrainian businessman last election cycle #trumprussia’
#TrumpLeaks Docs: Mitch McConnell linked super PAC took $2.5 million from a pro-Putin Ukrainian businessman last election cycle #trumprussia pic.twitter.com/V7HTq16fCR
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) May 21, 2017
Dworkin also found that McConnell is not the only person who has benefited from a pro-Putin businessman. He tweeted on Tuesday photos of documents that show Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker also received money from this “pro-Putin” individual during the last election cycle.
Docs: Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker took $1 million from a pro-Putin Ukrainian businessman—last election cycle.#TrumpLeaks #TrumpRussia pic.twitter.com/iswbdglTxC
— Scott Dworkin (@funder) May 23, 2017
While Walker’s name has not come up often with regards to the Trump/Russia investigation, this is not the first time Senator McConnell has been accused of having his own Russia connections.
Last month, Claude Taylor, a former White House staffer who worked under President Bill Clinton, revealed via Twitter that he had heard “chatter” about McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan being caught on tape discussing funneling Russian money into the Trump campaign.
Starting to hear chatter that there are intercepts w/ Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell discussing funneling illegal Russian money into campaign
— Claude Taylor (@TrueFactsStated) April 17, 2017
McConnell has only made suspicions about his links to Russia worse with his insistence that an independent investigation into Trump’s ties is not necessary.
Earlier this month, after Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, McConnell brushed off questions about an independent investigation, saying that “too much is at stake” and a separate review would derail the work that has already been done.
Governor Walker did say in March that he thinks the suspicions of collusion are serious and should be reviewed, but he’s been fairly quiet on the issue ever since.
Perhaps people like McConnell and Walker have refused to push for a more in-depth investigation because they don’t want their dirty laundry aired. That appears to be the general consensus among those commenting on Dworkin’s tweets.
#Resistance #Kentucky #Louisville #MitchMcConnell #Senate This explains a lot, hiding the Russian collusion because he is a part of it.
— 👽 Full Disclosure 2019👽 (@BurnettCynthia) May 21, 2017
When the @fbi uncovers this, him/ ryan are going down with the great orange ship. That's why they didn't want an independent investigation!
— Ryan J. Kaz (@RealRyanJKaz) May 21, 2017
Crooked @GOP this is why their protecting trump their just as guilty afraid for their own corrupt asses
— rsuds (@rsuds1310) May 23, 2017
Notice the common thread? Russians are cultivating the greediest Republicans to expand their kleptocratic influence.
— Katherine Fenton (@KatherineFento2) May 23, 2017
Featured image via Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.
