Jeffries: ‘Pro-Putin faction’ led by Trump, Tucker Carlson stopping Ukraine aid

Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York blamed former President Trump and conservative media host Tucker Carlson for the rise in anti-Ukrainian sentiment in the House, calling the pair a Republican. He called him a “pro-Putin” leader.

Ukraine aid has languished in the House for months as Republicans refuse to pass foreign spending without major border security reforms. Jeffries called on House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) to bring the Senate bill back to the floor on Sunday.

“The reason it won’t happen is because there are pro-Putin factions in the Republican Party led by Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson who are trying to block this bill,” he said in an interview with Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Because I do,” he said. “And that’s embarrassing.”

The aid to Ukraine was originally part of a bipartisan Senate bill that also included border security measures. The bill died in the House, with Democrats claiming that President Trump had directed Johnson and other Republicans to vote against it.

President Trump has said he does not want to pass a bipartisan bill to avoid handing President Biden an electoral victory on the politically sensitive border issue.

Carlson, a former Fox News host turned independent online media personality, visited Russia last month and released a series of videos praising Russia and criticizing President Biden. A sit-down interview with President Vladimir Putin was criticized for not being critical enough.

Mr. Jeffries also said that if Mr. Johnson passes a foreign spending bill that includes aid to Ukraine, some Democrats will vote against his motion to remove him as speaker.

“We’ve never had that conversation as a caucus,” Jeffries said. “But I have made the observation that I believe there are a fair number of members who believe that if the Speaker wants to do the right thing, he should not be removed from office as a result.”