While the votes were coming in a handful of statewide races Tuesday night, Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) was on the House floor delivering a serious takedown of those Russian collusion stories the media can't get enough of, but can't seem to back up.
Franks offered a summary of the "bombshell" reports last week that former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and his business associate Rick Gates were being indicted for money laundering and conspiracy against the United States. It looked bad at first glance, but we soon learned the Trump campaign was not mentioned in any of the 12 charges.
"In other words, the announcement amounted to what many have called a nothingburger," Franks concluded.
But what about the George Papadopoulos indictment? Franks replayed how that, too, amounted to wishful thinking. Papadopoulos was an unpaid intern on the Trump campaign who was immediately shot down after suggesting they meet with his Russian contacts. He was punished not his work on the campaign, but for lying to the FBI.
So, it was all a tease and the mainstream media still has no evidence.
"The main point is this Mr. Speaker, at least James Comey, the media, and the Democrats -- desperately want collusion to exist between Trump and Russia," he said. "And when you want something so bad, you might even begin to believe it to be true, even if it’s not."
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In his aggressive investigation, special counsel Robert Mueller appears to be treating Trump like Al Capone, Franks muses. He should stop, or no one will take his efforts seriously.
If the media really wants to get its hands on collusion reports, they have a whopper with the Uranium One scandal, Franks offered.
"Since the media seems to have an insatiable appetite for Russian collusion, let’s take a look at the Uranium One deal," he said. "That’s a story worth looking into, Mr. Speaker. And, I would bet the biggest steak in Washington, that if a special counsel was appointed to look into it -- that investigation will bring some truly legitimate results!"
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