1 House Republican's chilling warning on Trump and Russia

[NY_20th]

(CNN)In a New York Times op-ed — headlined "Trump Is Being Manipulated by Putin. What Should We Do?" — Texas Republican Rep. Will Hurd writes of this week's summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin:

"The president's failure to defend the United States intelligence community's unanimous conclusions of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and condemn Russian covert counterinfluence campaigns and his standing idle on the world stage while a Russian dictator spouted lies confused many but should concern all Americans. By playing into Vladimir Putin's hands, the leader of the free world actively participated in a Russian disinformation campaign that legitimized Russian denial and weakened the credibility of the United States to both our friends and foes abroad."

That's a wow. Even Republicans with a long record of criticism directed at Trump — which is a near-total overlay with members who are retiring — haven't gone as far as Hurd does here, suggesting that Trump is being worked as an asset to Russia. The American president. Being actively manipulated by a foreign government with something short of altruistic goals.

Hurd's op-ed is all the more chilling because before he came to Congress in 2014, he was a CIA operative from 2002 to 2009. This isn't some random House member spouting off to get some attention and distance himself from Trump in a swing district. This is a guy who knows of what he speaks. And he is now convinced of what was totally unthinkable even a year ago. (Worth noting: Hurd is in a very swing-y district; Hillary Clinton won it by 4 points by 2016 and he is a major target for Democrats this fall.)

Writes Hurd: "Over the course of my career as an undercover officer in the C.I.A., I saw Russian intelligence manipulate many people. I never thought I would see the day when an American president would be one of them."

read more here: https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/20/politics/will-hurd-russia-donald-trump/index.html

I don't usually read Cillizza, but this is one of his better write ups.

[Wounded Bear]

1. The evidence is out there...

anybody who can't see it is being willfully ignorant.

[exboyfil]

2. He is running

against a former Air Force Intelligence officer. He knew he couldn't drink the Kool-Aid and survive the general election.

https://www.statesman.com/news/state--regional/rep-will-hurd-wins-gop-primary-23rd-congressional-district/6IH16Wl6qNe78lKK6xxI2O/


But in a more crowded field, no Democrat was able to secure a majority of the primary vote on Tuesday, forcing a runoff between former Air Force intelligence officer Gina Ortiz Jones, who won 41 percent of Democratic support, and Rick Trevino, a high school teacher who won 17 percent support. Trevino edged out Judy Canales, a 2013 appointee by President Barack Obama to the USDA, for second place by 216 votes.

She won the run off. I have updated my post and go Gina.

[NY_20th]

3. Thank you very much for the additional info.

Yes, go Gina!

[Garrett78]

4. Trump "actively participated in a Russian disinformation campaign."

Has any Democrat in Congress made a statement as blunt as that?

[Stuart G]

5. I think this is a very interesting article..needs to be read and seen by everyone at DU.

Thanks for posting NY_20th

[NY_20th]

6. :)

[NY_20th]

7. kick

because it's important