Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said she hopes to ask Sunday FBI investigate protesters calling for a ceasefire Israel-Hamas war and suggested that some of the anti-war demonstrations were linked to Russia.
during interview On CNN’s State of the Union, the former speaker of the House of Representatives shared that he believes some of the protesters are “connected” to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“Their call for a ceasefire is Mr. Putin’s message, Mr. Putin’s message. Make no mistake. This is directly related to what he wants to see. Same thing with Ukraine. We are talking about Putin’s message,” Pelosi said.
“I think some of these – some of these protesters are spontaneous and organic and sincere. Some of them, I think, have a connection with Russia, and I say that he has been looking at it for a long time,” he continued.
Pressed on whether she thought some of the protesters were Russian plants, Pelosi said she wanted the FBI to look into the matter.
“I didn’t say they were plants. I think some funding should be explored.” “And I want to ask the FBI to look into this.”
When asked how concerned he was that voters like young people, Arab Americans and progressives might stay home instead of voting for President Joe Biden in the general election, given the growing number of protests. at promotional eventsPelosi said she was “on the receiving end” of what she described as the “exuberance” of the protesters.
“They are always in front of my house. So I feel what they feel, but we have to think about what we are doing,” he said. “And what we have to do is try to stop the suffering and gossip. These are women and children. People have nowhere to go, let’s solve this issue.”
Asked to comment on Pelosi’s remarks, a spokesman for the California Democrat said she supports peaceful protests and is concerned about interference by foreign adversaries in the 2024 presidential election.
“As Speaker Pelosi said on CNN, we must focus on ending the suffering in Gaza, and she will continue to demand that all hostages be released now,” the spokesman said. “Speaker Pelosi has always supported and defended the right of all Americans to express their views through peaceful protest.”
“Having been briefed on the House Intelligence Committee for three decades, Speaker Pelosi is well aware of how foreign adversaries meddle in American politics to sow division and influence our elections, and she wants to see further investigation ahead of the 2024 election,” the spokesperson added.
Pelosi’s comments highlighted a growing divide within the Democratic Party. His statement contrasted with remarks made almost simultaneously Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, DN.Y., A member of the progressive “Board” of House members. During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Ocasio-Cortez said she thought the ongoing protests at Biden campaign events showed that “young people are horrified by the violence and indiscriminate loss of life.”
Protests during Biden’s election campaign grew amid the president’s outspoken support for Israel. In response to the growing protests, Biden has advisers and Democratic Party leaders adopted a new, enhanced approach Dealing with protests that pointed to divisions within his own party over his handling of the war.
At the same time, the Biden administration is discussing using arms sales to Israel as a means of reducing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government’s military offensive on the Gaza Strip. NBC News reported on Sunday.