Paul rips Trump for endorsing ‘worst Deep State candidate this cycle’

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Monday criticized former President Donald Trump for supporting former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.)’s candidacy for the U.S. Senate, calling the former congressman ” “This is the worst deep state candidate this term.”

“Donald Trump just endorsed the worst deep state candidate this cycle. @MikeRogersForMI is by no means a Trumper, he carries the card of being part of the spy state trying to bring down Trump,” Paul said. Posted in Xthe platform formerly known as Twitter.

“You have to ask yourself who gave Trump this terrible advice. Who’s next, John Bolton?” said Trump’s former national security adviser, who has become one of the president’s harshest critics. he asked, referring to his aide.

President Trump announced Monday that he is endorsing Rogers, who is considered the favorite to win the Republican nomination for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.).

Mr. Rogers has also been endorsed by the National Republican Senatorial Committee. NRSC Chairman Steve Daines (Montana) has worked closely with President Trump to advance candidates supported by Senate Republican leadership into the general election.

Mr. Rogers, 60, served in the House of Representatives from January 2001 to January 2015 and was chairman of the House Intelligence Committee from 2011 to 2015. Since retiring from his House seat, he has become a national security analyst and expert for CNN.

As chairman of the Intelligence Committee, Mr. Rogers supported expanding surveillance authorities under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and opposed efforts to limit intelligence gathering by intelligence agencies to protect the country from potential threats. .

Mr. Paul has been the most vocal critic of the expanded surveillance powers granted by Section 702 of FISA, arguing that they violate the Fourth Amendment.

He would require the U.S. government to obtain traditional Article III orders from federal courts to monitor the activities of U.S. citizens, and would require intelligence officials to instead seek orders from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court. It proposes reforms such as banning