RUSSIAN SPIES KIDNAP WHITE HOUSE RABBIT
Fears for peace after bunny snatched
THE world was teetering on the brink of WAR last night after it emerged Russian agents had kidnapped a RABBIT belonging to the family of U. S. Vice- President Mike Pence.
It’s believed spies working at the heart of the American government snatched the bunny in retaliation for the Yanks imposing new sanctions on Russia.
The sanctions were brought in by the U. S. Congress – in the face of protests from the Trump White House – to punish Russia for its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
Russia has already expelled 455 diplomatic staff from Moscow but the kidnap of the black and white pet, called Marlon Bundo, shows that Russian strongman Vladimir Putin means business.
A White House source said: “Putin knows that the Trump administration does not support the sanctions but he wants to send a message to the President: Get Congress under control and off Russia’s case.
“Obviously, given that Russian spies helped the President win the election, he is minded to look quite favourably on Moscow. But they may have crossed the line by stealing the VP’s rabbit.
“It’s this kind of thing that can lead to war.”
Marlon Bundo, won the hearts of the American public earlier this year when it appeared at a press conference with Mr Pence, his wife Karen and President Trump’s daughter Ivanka.
The flop- eared favourite has been nicknamed BOTUS – Bunny Of The United States and even gets to ride on the President’s plane, Air Force One.
The rabbit’s theft has sparked a “root and branch” review of White House security.
Our source said: “Nobody is above suspicion.”
Although the theft of the rabbit itself is not seen as provocative, the residences of foreign leaders are strictly off limits to hostile agents – and have been since British forces burned down the White House in the war of 1812.
Violation of such a convention is seen as close to an act of war.