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To the extent that there have been nonetheless any doubts concerning the absurdity of the Republicans’ impeachment campaign, these questions had been answered final week. The GOP’s star witness — the person at the heart of the party’s case towards President Joe Biden — was arrested for lying to the FBI about the Bidens. Quickly after, the general public discovered that the identical witness, Alexander Smirnov, in accordance with a Trump-appointed prosecutor, peddled false claims he obtained from foreign intelligence officials, together with lies from Russia.
This led to a brand new spherical of requires Republicans to simply bring their debacle to a close. As Newsweek noted, Sen. Ron Johnson apparently doesn’t fairly see it that manner.
Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson has stated Alexander Smirnov, the previous FBI informant charged with falsely stating that President Joe Biden and his son accepted a bribe, is “innocent until proven guilty.”
In different phrases, Johnson isn’t ready to surrender on the witness simply but. Even Home Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan conceded late final week that the informant’s allegations now not seem credible, however the Wisconsin senator is clinging to his hopes anyway.
Throughout his newest Newsmax look, Johnson went on to boost doubts concerning the case towards Smirnov. “Is this a corrupt investigation, a corrupt prosecution? I have no idea,” he stated.
So, just a few issues.
First, it’s clearly true that the presumption of innocence is a bedrock precept of the American justice system. That stated, it’s value noting for context that on this case, according to prosecutors, Smirnov “admitted that officials associated with Russian intelligence were involved” in peddling a narrative about Hunter Biden.
Second, Johnson, the previous chairman of the Senate Homeland Safety Committee, might have doubts concerning the integrity of the legislation enforcement investigation and prosecution, however let’s not overlook that the case towards Smirnov was introduced by particular counsel David Weiss — a Trump-appointed federal prosecutor.
However simply as notable is the query of credibility. As Johnson takes steps to defend his get together’s star witness, regardless of his interactions with officers related to Russian intelligence, I’m reminded of quite a lot of associated revelations from the senator’s current previous.
It was simply a few weeks in the past, for instance, when Johnson denounced U.S. help to Ukraine, criticized U.S. sanctions towards Russia, and expressed settlement with Vladimir Putin’s current rhetoric.
Years earlier, Johnson conceded that he obtained an FBI briefing, warning the senator that he was a target of Russian disinformation.
Earlier than that, U.S. intelligence officers warned senators and their aides that Russia was engaged in a marketing campaign “to essentially frame" Ukraine for Russia’s 2016 election assault. Quickly after, Johnson nonetheless appeared to endorse Russia’s line.
A yr earlier, Johnson was a part of a Senate delegation that spent the 4th of July in Moscow. Upon his return, the Wisconsin Republican questioned the utility of U.S. sanctions towards Russia.
To make certain, the GOP senator has additionally publicly criticized Putin and his regime, however as Johnson suggests his get together’s anti-Biden witness may nonetheless be credible, even after Smirnov acknowledged his interactions with officers related to Russian intelligence, the totality of the Republican’s document seems related.
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