Cruz: ‘What We Are Seeing Is a Lot of Political Theater’
by Susan Jones, CNSnews:
The controversy surrounding Jeff Sessions’ contact with the Russian ambassador is a “nothing-burger,” Sen. Ted Cruz said on Thursday.
“What we are seeing is a lot of political theater,” Cruz told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.”
“Could Jeff have been more clear in what he said? Yes. I think that was unfortunate. Context matters a lot. Jeff was being asked about the Trump campaign communicating with the Russians. I think he understood that he was answering in that capacity and that is perfectly understandable.”
Cruz also said meeting with foreign ambassadors is part of a senator’s job.
“And so I think everyone is getting worked up because it’s a chance to beat up the attorney general and a chance to beat up the president.”
Cruz served with Sessions on the Armed Services Committee, and Cruz says he personally met with six different ambassadors in January and February – but not the Russian ambassador.
“You know, I’m willing to bet Al Franken has met with a great number of ambassadors,” even while he was supporting Hillary Clinton. “But when he’s doing his job as senator, he’s not a representative of the campaign. I think the same was exactly true for Jeff Sessions when he was doing his job as a senator.”
Cruz said typically, ambassadors call senators to request meetings.
“Jeff Sessions is a man of integrity, hes a man of candor. I don’t know any senator who served with Jeff Sessions, Democrat or Republican, who would say that Jeff has been anything less than totally honest. Now, they don’t like that he’s a conservative… but he is very open and honest about his views.
