GOP Rep. Mike Turner said Sunday that Russian propaganda has caught on among some of his Republican colleagues and is even “resonating on the floor of the House of Representatives.”
“We see that coming directly from Russia… communications Against Ukraine and pro-Russian messages, some of which we’re even hearing on the floor of the House of Representatives,” Turner, chairman of the House Select Committee on Intelligence, said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“There are members of Congress today who still say it’s wrong Conflict between Russia and Ukraine It is on NATO, of course not,” he added.
Turner’s office did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for clarification on which members of Congress he was referring to.
His comments follow House Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Michael McCaul’s remarks this week about how Russian propaganda has taken root among the GOP.
McCaul, Texas Republican, Puck News reports “Russian propaganda has unfortunately made its way into the United States and infected a good portion of the core of my party,” he said.
Turner and McCaul each linked Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin, to other authoritarian leaders, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
“[The propaganda] It makes it difficult for us to see this as a fight against authoritarianism and democracy, which is what it is,” Turner told CNN, adding, “Chinese President Xi, Vladimir Putin himself has defined it that way.”
McCaul talked about explaining the threat of Russian propaganda in a similar way to that of other American adversaries.
“I have to explain to them what is at stake, why Ukraine is in our national security interests. “By the way, you don’t like Communist China? Well, guess what? They’re united [with Russia], together with the Ayatollah. So when you explain it that way, they kind of get it.”
Each of the committee chairs talked about Russian propaganda when they talked about the need for Congress to approve more military aid to Ukraine.
“Ukraine needs our help and assistance now, and this is a very critical time for the US Congress to provide that assistance,” Turner told CNN.
In recent months, the House of Representatives has stalled efforts by Speaker Mike Johnson to pass aid to Ukraine refuses to put an aid package In February, the Senate presented resources to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan in the House of Representatives.
Rep. Don Bacon said last week on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.” he had commitments from Johnson and Mike McCaul, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said they would allow a bipartisan Ukraine military aid package to come up for a vote. But Bacon, R-Neb., also warned that Johnson could face a vote to remove him from the speakership if he moves forward with Ukraine aid.
On Sunday, Turner downplayed the idea that Johnson’s position on Ukraine aid was at risk.
“I don’t think he’s at any risk,” Turner said. “I think what people call the ‘smell of chaos,’ people seeking attention for themselves and trying to stop all important business in Congress, is now seen as just disruptive.”