Conservative group’s ads pressure GOP legislators

WASHINGTON >> A conservative group is launching a series of ads this weekend urging House and Senate Republicans to condemn President Donald Trump for prodding the president of Ukraine to investigate a political rival.

Republicans for the Rule of Law will spend $1 million — its biggest ad buy to date — on a series of TV and digital ads that will target more than 20 members of Congress, including Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.

“Republicans in Congress must condemn this behavior without reservation,” said Republicans for the Rule of Law legal adviser and spokesman Chris Truax. “It is no longer about whether Republicans believe President Trump or whether they support his policies. It’s about whether they support his admitted abuse of power and his efforts to secure a foreign government’s help in an American election. President Trump sees nothing wrong with his behavior.

“In fact, he’s proud of it. The question now is, are Republicans?” Truax asked.

The 30-second ad calls Trump’s actions an “abuse of power” and warns it will happen again “unless Republicans … stand up and say it’s wrong.”

The Senate intelligence committee has been looking into the matter and Burr, who led a closeddoor committee meeting Thursday, has been circumspect.

“Don’t expect us to move at light speed; that’ll probably happen in the House,” Burr said. “But the committee is committed to making sure we get to the bottom of what questions need answered.”