While many on the right have come out swinging against the Senate Border Deal, struck between Sen. Schumer and Sen. Lankford, a supposed Republican, Sen. Rand Paul took a different tack from attacking it than most. According to Sen. Paul, the bill is hugely problematic not just because of the “fake border reforms” in it, but because of how it would “squander” Americans’ money by shipping billions of more dollars to Ukraine.
As background, the border deal would not only provide $20 billion in funding for the border security aspects that conservatives want, but would also provide $60 billion for the Ukrainian war effort and $14 billion for the Israeli war effort. It was with the Ukraine funding that Rand Paul took particular umbrage given a recent AP report on corruption in the country.
Posting about the matter on X, Sen. Paul included a link to the AP report on corruption in the country and said, “Amazing. This predictable revelation is only a week old and yet the Swamp’s new “border security” bill gives Ukraine $60 billion more….from the squandering of your money to the fake border reforms, it’s safe to declare this bill as anti-American. I’m a NO.”
According to the associated press report cited by Sen. Paul, an arms firm in Ukraine conspired with officials in Ukraine’s defense ministry to steal away $40 million. The money had been earmarked for ordering 100,000 mortar shells, desperately needed for the type of trench warfare the Ukrainians and Russians are using in the war. The AP added that five people have been charged in the corruption case, each of whom faces up to 12 years in prison.
Sen. Paul is far from alone in his criticism of the bill. For example, former President Donald Trump joined him in calling out the bill as being terrible, at least from a conservative perspective, and saying that Republicans need to vote against it.
In one post about the bill, for example, former President Trump said that only fools and leftists could possibly find the bill acceptable, saying, “Only a fool, or a Radical Left Democrat, would vote for this horrendous Border Bill, which only gives Shutdown Authority after 5000 Encounters a day, when we already have the right to CLOSE THE BORDER NOW, which must be done. This Bill is a great gift to the Democrats, and a Death Wish for The Republican Party.”
Continuing in that post, President Trump added, “It takes the HORRIBLE JOB the Democrats have done on Immigration and the Border, absolves them, and puts it all squarely on the shoulders of Republicans. Don’t be STUPID!!! We need a separate Border and Immigration Bill. It should not be tied to foreign aid in any way, shape, or form! The Democrats broke Immigration and the Border. They should fix it. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!”
In another post, Trump called the bill a “trap” for the GOP and called on legislators not to fall for it, saying, “The ridiculous “Border” Bill is nothing more than a highly sophisticated trap for Republicans to assume the blame on what the Radical Left Democrats have done to our Border, just in time for our most important EVER Election. Don’t fall for it!!!“
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