While many Americans were grappling with the very real possibility that Donald Trump is acting at the behest of Russia, Republicans did everything but contemplate that possibility. South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, for instance, took the opportunity to impugn the FBI for taking extraordinary measures to protect the republic from a potential Russian asset.
"I, for one, don’t trust what I read in the New York Times," he said on Fox News Sunday, promising to query FBI Director Christopher Wray on the matter. "I find it astonishing, and to me it tells me a lot about the people running the FBI, [former Deputy Director Andrew] McCabe and that crowd."
Here's something astonishing: In the 72 hours since tag-team reporting from the Times and the Washington Post suggested Trump might be a Russian asset and also trying to cover his tracks, the strongest reaction yet came from Utah Sen. Mitt Romney.
“I think it is inappropriate for the president of our country to communicate with the president of another global power without having people there who are keeping careful records to make sure what is said by both parties is followed up on,” Romney told CNN. “That's an enormous mistake and should not be repeated.”
“Inappropriate”—don’t worry, Mittens is on the case now! But seriously, at least he said something. Other than Romney, not a single Republican has said or done anything to contemplate the national security risks of a Russian mole serving as president of the United States.
“Inappropriate” is best they got. The rest of them are still attacking the FBI’s “witch hunt” and covering for Trump. Pathetic.