EU News Digest Latest News & Updates
Getty Images
(L to R) Sen. Mike Enzi (R-WY), Senate Finance Committee chairman Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Rep. Mike Bishop (R-MI) look on during a press event to discuss the GOP plans for tax reform, September 27, 2017 in Washington, DC.
As news of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort’s indictment ripped through official Washington on Monday, Republicans in Congress largely chose to talk about anything but the biggest story of the day.
On social media, top Republicans posted about deregulation, tax reform and federal judges, but there was barely a whisper about Manafort. House Speaker Paul Ryan reportedly told a Wisconsin radio station: “Nothing is going to derail what we’re doing in Congress.”
Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah directed Republicans’ attention to President Donald Trump’s ability to appoint like-minded judges.
@senorrinhatch tweet
Rep. Phil Roe of Tennessee focused on efforts to push through tax cuts.
@drphilroe tweet
West Virginia Sen. Shelley Moore Capito also focused on tax reform.
@sencapito tweet
There were some Republicans, however, who commented on the breaking news. Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York took the occasion to express her support for the ongoing investigation into possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
@repstefanik
Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois also said he respected special counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing probe.
@repkinzinger tweet
Bill Kristol, a leading Trump critic and founder of the conservative Weekly Standard magazine, urged Republicans to avoid defending Manafort or ripping Mueller.
@billkristol tweet
The president himself also weighed in on the news, expressing his desire that investigators focus on Democrat Hillary Clinton, whom he defeated in last November’s presidential election.
Trump tweet
