Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) was asked if Trump’s soft behavior toward Russia has anything to with the Mueller investigation, and instead of defending Trump, all Johnson could say was “I have no idea.”
Video:
This answer from Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) reveals that Trump shouldn't count on Senate Republicans to have his back no questions asked on impeachment. https://t.co/tSOjXyly3G #MTP pic.twitter.com/iKg4liqxMp
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) April 1, 2018
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Transcript via Meet The Press:
CHUCK TODD:
Do you think the president’s actions have anything to do with the Russia probe, that the way he talks or doesn’t talk about Russia, that he’s somehow influenced by what’s happening with Mueller?
RON JOHNSON:
I, I, I, I have no idea.
CHUCK TODD:
Now does that–
RON JOHNSON:
I have no idea.
CHUCK TODD:
Do you think he’d be in a better place, if he would get tougher on Putin?
RON JOHNSON:
We, as a world, you know, as, as the – you know — western democracies have got to show greater strength and resolve. And of course, what President Trump did is prod our European partners. And more of them are reaching their 2% spending in terms of NATO. So we do need Europe to step up to the plate and help us work with, with Russia.
If the Russia investigation were a “witch hunt” as Trump claims, Republican senators would be stepping up to defend him, not leave the possibility open that there is merit to what Mueller is investigating. Trump’s line of defense on Russia isn’t in the Senate. Trump has few friends in the Senate, and he will have even fewer after Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT).
House Republicans are all that is standing between Trump and potential impeachment.
If Mueller finds evidence that Trump committed an impeachable offense, and Democrats have control of the House, it might not be as easy as one thinks for Trump not to be convicted at an impeachment. If Republicans decide that they would rather have Pence as the incumbent president instead of Trump in 2020, they could give Trump the boot and run Pence as a “clean slate” at the top of the ticket in 2020.
The lack of support that Trump is getting from Senate Republicans is a signal that they are leaving themselves wiggle to dump him if they need to save their own seats in 2020.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
