Last week, on the South Lawn of the White House President Trump once again begged two foreign powers, Ukraine and China, to interfere in the 2020 election:
Q Mr. President, what exactly did you hope Zelensky would do about the Bidens after your phone call? Exactly.
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I would think that, if they were honest about it, they’d start a major investigation into the Bidens. It’s a very simple answer.
They should investigate the Bidens, because how does a company that’s newly formed — and all these companies, if you look at —
And, by the way, likewise, China should start an investigation into the Bidens, because what happened in China is just about as bad as what happened with — with Ukraine.
So, I would say that President Zelensky — if it were me, I would recommend that they start an investigation into the Bidens. Because nobody has any doubt that they weren’t crooked. That was a crooked deal — 100 percent. He had no knowledge of energy; didn’t know the first thing about it. All of a sudden, he is getting $50,000 a month, plus a lot of other things. Nobody has any doubt.
And they got rid of a prosecutor who was a very tough prosecutor. They got rid of him. Now they’re trying to make it the opposite way. But they got rid —
So, if I were the President, I would certainly recommend that of Ukraine.
Yet despite President Trump begging two foreign countries, on camera and in full daylight, to interfere in the United States’ 2020 election, Washington Republicans’ strategy has been to stay silent and attempt to hide in plain sight. In stark contrast, Democrats have been clear that we will not use hacked material or accept foreign interference in American elections.
Avoiding taking a position might seem like Washington Republicans’ best possible political option, but with our democracy at stake, Republicans in Washington must state unequivocally whether they agree with Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) and Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) that it is unacceptable for the American President pressure a foreign governments to interfere in US elections.
DCCC spokesperson Cole Leiter released the following statement:
“This should not be a difficult question: do Republicans in Washington believe the American President should encourage foreign governments to interfere in US elections? And, if they are willing to overlook President Trump’s current abuse of office, where is the line for conduct by an American President they will not condone?”
Background: The DCCC has signed a pledge in both the 2018 and 2020 cycles to not use hacked material or accept foreign interference in US elections. House Republicans’ campaign arm has not followed in taking a similar pledge.