Thread by @kazweida

7 GOP Senators & 1 GOP Rep spent July 4th in Moscow meeting behind closed doors with Kremlin officials.

A congressional delegation isn't unusual, but let's discusss why this one made headlines. And try to answer an important question.

Why the hell was the GOP there?
(THREAD)

(2) A codel (short for congressional delegation) is pretty common. In fact, lawmakers tried to go to Russia last year but one of their colleagues, Democrat Jeanne Shaheen, was denied a visa.

This year, they left Shaheen and other Putin critics at home.
politico.com/story/2017/12/…

(3) The first red flag is the make-up of this codel. Typically these are bi-partisan. This time? All GOP.
@RonJohnsonWI (WI)
@SenShelby (AL)
@SteveDaines (MT)
@johnthune (SD)
@JohnKennedyLA (LA)
@JerryMoran (KS)
@SenJohnHoeven (ND)
@RepKayGranger (TX)

thehill.com/homenews/senat…

(4) 2nd red flag is the timing. Spending July 4th cozying up to Kremlin officials seems like the worst kind of hubris. But this visit also came on the same day of the Senate Intel Committee's agreement that Russian election meddling aided Donald Trump.

cnn.com/2018/07/03/pol…

(5) In fact, the GOP codel says that's exactly why they went. To discourage Moscow from interfering in US elections if they'd like a friendlier relationship with lawmakers.

If that sounds supsiciously like dangling lifting sanctions, you're not wrong.
businessinsider.com/russia-uses-go…

(6) Here's where their narrative of hanging out in Russia to encourage friendlier relations and paving the way before the Trump Putin summit next week gets stuck.

Every effort was made to keep these meetings secret & the codel avoided media coverage.
msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-…

(7) If you're there to encourage diplomatic relations, you do it in front of cameras. This GOP codel seemed to want better relations with Russia. Just not the optics of better relationships.

The GOP seems to understand shaking hands with Russia right now is toxic. Why risk it?

(8) I wish I had something reassuring to say here. I don't. I can't think of a single good reason to go to Russia right now and risk looking unAmerican before midterms in the current political climate.

A visit like this only benefits Russia.
newsweek.com/putin-waging-s…

(9) In the days since their little meeting, these GOP senators seem eager to signal to the press that they are thinking about "lifting" sanctions.

As you can see, Russia is seizing on that narrative. And they'll use this as leverage in the summit.
tass.com/world/1012340

(10) I expect to see lots of rhetoric in the coming days from Trump paving the way for lifting sanctions because they "aren't working." Be aware that narrative comes straight from the Kremlin and the GOP.

But now I'm stuck on a question I can't answer.
brookings.edu/blog/order-fro…

(11) What did the GOP codel get in return for promises of lifting sanctions?
I don't know.

But since they're the ones who benefited from Russia's election interference, it's hard to believe the GOP suddenly became concerned about the integrity of America's ballot boxes.

(END) Thanks for the Sunday thread suggestion from both @sandycompany and @MrSchismatist .

Come back next week and we'll have another go at dissecting the headlines.

P.S. If you want a more in depth look at the GOP trip to Moscow, I highly recommend this read.
👇
rantt.com/gop-lawmakers-…