Paul: Democrats have ‘decided to criminalize politics’

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said Sunday that Democrats have decided to “criminalize politics” while he defended President Trump against allegations of wrongdoing as the House pushes forward with the impeachment process. 

Paul called the process a “very partisan thing” and said that he predicts no Senate Republicans will vote to remove Trump in an expected Senate trial.

“This is a disagreement. People on the Democratic side don’t like President Trump, they don’t like his demeanor so they decided to sort of criminalize politics,” Paul said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” 

“I don’t think it’s a good thing. I don’t think it’s a good day for the country, I think it’s a sad day because I hope it doesn’t devolve into every president like in different parts of Latin America where we either impeach or throw presidents into jail just because we don’t like their politics,” he continued. “I think that will really dumb down and destroy the country.”

“I hope it doesn’t devolve into…we either impeach or throw presidents into jail just because we don’t like their politics. I think that will dumb down and destroy the country,” GOP Sen. Rand Paul says as articles of impeachment go to the House floor for a vote this week #CNNSOTU pic.twitter.com/wUu9wcg1Xt

— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) December 15, 2019

Paul also said that the president’s opinion on foreign aid is similar to his own and said Trump had “doubts” on the issue. He also said that “foreign aid does not cure corruption,” but rather “aids and abets” corruption. 

CNN’s Jake Tapper pressed Paul, asking him if he “really” thinks Trump was concerned about corruption in his dealings with Ukraine, noting that “corruption” is not mentioned on the transcript of a July 25 call central to the impeachment probe. 

“Yes I do,” Paul said. {mosads}

The senator also said that the media is misreporting the fact that Trump asked Ukrainian leaders to investigate a political rival. 

“It’s a fact,” Tapper said. 

“Well, it’s not what you said is completely untrue. The president didn’t call up the president of Ukraine and say ‘investigate my rival,’ ” Paul responded.

Tapper said that Trump did ask Ukraine to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, a top 2020 candidate. 

“The thing is you guys are not being honest with the facts here. He did not say ‘investigate my rival,’ he said ‘investigate a person,’ ” Paul said. 

“And Joe Biden is his rival,” Tapper responded.