News · Press Release

5 Reasons McCarthy Wasn’t Joking About “Putin’s Favorite Congressman” Being Paid By The Kremlin

Rohrabacher’s alarming ties to the Kremlin show why McCarthy dropped the truth

Revealed through a previously secret recording, GOP Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher – his California colleague – was being paid by Vladimir Putin. After saying that there’s “two people I think Putin pays: Rohrabacher and Trump,” McCarthy made sure his colleagues understood his seriousness: “Swear to God.” While Republican leadership has given us no reason to believe their excuses for the statement – originally denying it ever happened, until presented with the recording – McCarthy is now claiming it was a joke.

But there are deadly serious reasons why Rohrabacher has been labeled “Putin’s favorite congressman,” and the fact that he sits on the Foreign Affairs Committee is a detriment to our national security and America’s global standing. Below are five of the most disturbing reasons why McCarthy’s statement is no joke:

  • Rohrabacher consistently opposed, voted against sanctioning Russia. In 2014, after its invasion of Crimea, Rohrabacher voted against sanctioning Russia and providing aide to Ukraine. More recently, Rohrabacher opposed legislation sanctioning Russian weapon suppliers of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s deadly war machine.
  • Rohrabacher used Kremlin propaganda to derail legislation Russia opposed in Congress. According to Politico, “Rohrabacher went to great lengths in an unsuccessful attempt to derail legislation that Russia opposed in Congress. He even used information provided directly from the Russian government to make his case.”
  • Rohrabacher tried to shield Russia from being labeled a human rights abuser, defended Putin-backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Rohrabacher said it’s “baloney” that Russia is a major human rights abuser and downplayed such abuses the country has committed in the past. Most alarming, Rohrabacher defended Kremlin-backed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, saying he’s “not such a bad guy” and Syria is “not our enemy.
  • Rohrabacher has a relationship with an ex-Kremlin spy who now lobbies on behalf of Russian interests. Among his multiple rendezvous with an ex-Kremlin spy who now lobbies on behalf of Russian interests, Rohrabacher secretly discussed an ongoing Department of Justice investigation into Russian money laundering, after which he advocated against legislation related to the case in favor of Russian interests.
  • Rohrabacher advocated against investigating Michael Flynn’s ties to Russia and met with Paul Manafort when he was a lobbyist for Putin-Backer Victor Yanukovych. After National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned due to his communications with Russian officials, Rohrabacher advocated against investigating him further, saying he “didn’t think additional investigations into Flynn’s communication with Russian officials were necessary.” As if defending one Russia-connected Trump official wasn’t enough, it was also revealed that Rohrabacher met with Paul Manafort when he was a lobbyist for Victor Yanukovych right before Rohrabacher opposed aide for Ukraine.

“Congressman Rohrabacher has been labeled ‘Putin’s favorite congressman’ for some deadly serious reasons,” said DCCC spokesman Tyler Law. “Now that his colleagues acknowledge it as well, Rohrabacher’s relationship with an ex-Kremlin spy and attempts at derailing anti-Russian legislation must not be ignored. Rohrabacher has compromised himself and it is a grave risk to America’s standing in the world that he continues to serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee.”





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