Adam Kinzinger, a Republican Representative from Illinois, had some choice words for fellow GOP party members on Sunday in regard to those speaking out in support of Vladimir Putin’s campaign to stop Ukraine from joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO.) A primary goal of said organization is to defend member nations from threats by communist countries. Kinzinger voiced concerns that an increasing number of Republican political figures are displaying an “affection for authoritarianism,” through their support of Russia’s President.
Though Moscow has denied and diminished concerns that Russia is on the brink of a Ukrainian invasion multiple times, the United States and several allied countries from Western Europe have expressed great alarm at the possibility. In the thick of political discourse and strained diplomacy, Russia has been insistent that NATO pledge to never allow Ukraine to join the organization.
“I don’t think it’s a huge portion, but it’s way too big and it’s growing and it’s a huge concern,” Kinzinger said while being interviewed for CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “I mean, what was this five years ago? It might be like somebody like Rand Paul that would say something, or Dana Rohrabacher. Now, there’s a significant number of folks doing it with Tucker Carlson talking about, you know, how great Vladimir Putin is and how Ukraine is really actually part of Russia.”
His words came in response to CBS’ Margaret Brennan asking Kinzinger his thoughts on members of the Republican party who requested that President Joe Biden remain noninterventionist in regard to Putin’s goals. Kinzinger mentions that the support could likely be a result of “naivety” on the part of some Republican political figures and lawmakers on foreign policy.
“It’s an affection for authoritarianism,” he continued. “And I think Vladimir Putin has done a decent job of engaging in culture battles and culture war, and he is seen as the person defending, in essence, the culture of the past.”
Kinzinger then went on to label the situation as “frightening.”
“This is a frightening moment, and any Republican that has affection for Vladimir Putin has no understanding of what our party stands for or what our country stands for,” he stated.
Kinzinger also spoke on the state of the Jan. 6 investigation as a member of the Jan. 6 committee when prompted to give insight on Rudy Guiliani’s cooperation.
“What I can tell you is that he’s been subpoenaed,” Kinzinger said. “Our expectation is that he is going to cooperate, because that’s the law, that is the requirement, ―same as if someone is subpoenaed to court. There may be some changes in dates and moments here as lawyers do their back and forth, but we fully expect that in accordance with the law, we’ll hear from Rudy.”
He also said: “We’re looking forward to wrapping this up at some point when that is right, showing this to the American people, ―but not rushing it, not hurrying this. We want everyone to have the full story. That’s what’s important.”
