Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) drew the audience’s laughter during a debate when he said he had been “set up” by the FBI.
Johnson is known for spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories. He made the allegation in response to an attack by his Democrat opponent, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, that the Kremlin was trying to turn him into a “Russian asset.”
In 2020, the FBI provided a briefing to Johnson about how influential politicians had been targeted to spread falsehoods intended to damage Joe Biden in his campaign for the White House.
“In response to the wild charge of the Lt. Gov. Barnes, the FBI set me up,” Johnson said, being interrupted by audience members laughing.
Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!
A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.
The senator claimed the FBI report was a “corrupt briefing.”
He confirmed he was warned by the agency in August 2020 in an interview.
Johnson, a fierce Donald Trump‘s ally, is the incumbent senator in Wisconsin and faces Barnes, the Democratic challenger in the November election.
On Tuesday, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) banned noncompete agreements in a 3-2 vote. The…
A proposed bill in California would prohibit security screening company CLEAR from skipping the general…
On Monday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments over a challenge to a law allowing…
The Arizona House of Representatives failed to advance a repeal of the state's 160-year-old abortion…
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek (D) signed a bill restoring criminal charges in cases of hard drug possession.…
President Joe Biden's administration announced the first-ever national limits on toxic "forever chemicals" in drinking water. This…