GOP lawmaker ‘baffled and disappointed’ by Trump’s endorsement of opponent in Senate primary

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.) says he is confused over President Trump’s endorsement of Sen. Luther Strange (R-Ala.) in Alabama’s Senate race.

“I respect President Trump, but I am baffled and disappointed Mitch McConnell and the Swamp somehow misled the President into endorsing Luther Strange,” Brooks said in a statement. 

Trump’s decision to endorse Strange comes as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has put pressure on allies to back Strange. McConnell and the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) are treating Strange as the incumbent, and the Republican National Committee gave the NRSC the green light to spend $350,000 on the race last month to boost Strange. 

{mosads}Brooks went on to accuse Strange of making a corrupt bargain in winning his appointment to the Senate in February.

“Perhaps the President is unaware that Luther Strange corruptly and unethically held a criminal investigation over the head of disgraced Governor Bentley to obtain the senate appointment.” 

In February, then-Gov. Robert Bentley (R) appointed Strange to temporarily fill the Senate seat vacated by new Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions. That appointment gave Strange the chance to serve in the Senate through November, when Alabama will have an election to fill the seat for the remainder of the term.

Strange opponents have criticized the appointment because of the circumstances surrounding his relationship with the governor. As the state’s attorney general, Strange had been involved in an investigation surrounding Bentley, who later resigned and pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges related to an affair with an aide. 

He’s denied any wrongdoing, and there’s been no proof of any corruption. But Strange’s proximity to the disgraced former governor has provided his critics with ammunition regardless. 

Brooks also said that the president may not be aware that Strange wants to keep the Senate’s “60 percent rule that empowers” Democrats, a reference to the legislative filibuster.

“The President has bigger things going on than a campaign, that’s for sure,” Brooks added. 

“In any event, while Mitch McConnell and the Swamp managed to mislead the President last night, I still support the America First Agenda, and the polls show we have momentum.”

Brooks also touted the strength of his message and gave his opponent a Trump-style nickname. 

“We believe our message will win out over the Swamp and Lyin’ Luther,” he said.

“We continue to fight for America’s future. When the going gets tough, the tough gets going. Forward we march.”