Contact: Courtney Beyer, courtneyb@wisdems.org
MADISON — Sen. Ron Johnson, who recently returned from a secret all-GOP trip to Russia, has yet to respond to requests that he disclose more details on his trip now that 12 Russian nationals were indicted in crimes related to Russia’s interference in our election. Here are 5 questions Johnson should be asked at his roundtable discussion today:
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Why did Johnson return from his trip downplaying the threat of Russian election interference? On his return from Russia, Ron Johnson remarked that Russia’s potential to interfere in future U.S. elections is “not the greatest threat to our democracy” and “when you look at threats to this nation I look at much larger threats.”
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What did Russian officials say to the all-GOP delegation who would undoubtedly benefit from future Russian influence in our elections? The U.S.’s Director of National Intelligence has warned that Russia is likely to interfere again in the 2018 midterms. Russians were eager to see Trump and other Russia-friendly Republicans elected, and it is likely if they were to interfere in 2018, it would be to the GOP’s benefit.
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Why did Johnson return from his trip suggesting loosened sanctions on Russia? Johnson, after meeting with unnamed Russian officials, dismissed the threat of election interference and then suggested that sanctions weren’t working and should be lifted. He made these suggestions despite mountains of proof that Russia sought to influence the outcoming of the 2016 election.
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Was Johnson offered something in exchange for his obedience?Johnson’s sudden dismissal of the threat of Russian interference suggests that he could have been manipulated or encouraged by Russian officials to adopt a pro-Russian attitude.
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Why doesn’t Johnson take the credible, well-investigated threat of Russian election interference seriously? Dozens of individuals have been charged with crimes related to Russia’s attempt to interfere in the 2016 elections, and a top U.S. intelligence official warned that “frankly, the United States is under attack.” Why hasn’t Ron Johnson taken this threat to our national security seriously?