January 1, Lawmakers Accused of Being “Pro-Putin”

Six Republican members of the U.S. House of Representatives are facing accusations from across the aisle of being sympathetic to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Earlier this week, the six GOP lawmakers voted against a bill to investigate potential war crimes by Russian forces in their invasion of Ukraine. Every other member of the House present voted in favor.

The “no” votes from Reps. Andy Biggs (AZ), Warren Davidson (OH), Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA), Paul Gosar (AZ), Thomas Massie (KY), and Scott Perry (PA) have given Democrats an avenue to paint the Republicans as a “Pro-Putin faction.”

“The GOP’s Pro-Putin faction is anti-democratic,” the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee tweeted after the vote.

Similarly, Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (D-N.Y.) said “Republicans are Putin-curious.”

But Republicans who’ve voted against recent Russia-affiliated measures have cited concerns over their unintended effects, such as inflation.

“It is not ‘Pro-Putin’ to observe second and third-order consequences of legislation that wanders far beyond its stated scope,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) said.

Source:

GOP ‘no’ votes on Russia measures prompt pro-Putin accusations