Intel Chairman Turner: 'It is absolutely true' that Russian propaganda infected the US Congress

House Intelligence Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio) on Sunday emphasized the broad reach of Russian propaganda and said it presented itself before the US Congress.

In an interview on CNN's “State of the Union” with Jake Tapper, Turner said he agreed with Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who singled out conservative media and said: “Russian propaganda “It has made its way into the United States, unfortunately, and has infected a large portion of my party’s base.”

“Oh, that's exactly true,” Turner told Tapper of McCall's remarks. “We see direct attempts by Russia to hide communications that are anti-Ukrainian and pro-Russian messages, some of which we hear being uttered on the House floor.”

“I mean there are members of Congress today who are still saying incorrectly that this conflict between Russia and Ukraine is about NATO, which of course it's not,” Turner said. “Vladimir Putin has made clear, publicly and to his people, that his view is that this is a conflict related to a much broader claim by Russia, to Eastern Europe, including the claim that all Ukrainian territory belongs to Russia.”

Turner said the propaganda made it increasingly difficult to pass aid to Ukraine and present a clear picture of the battle between democracy and authoritarianism.

“Now, as much as this propaganda takes hold, it makes it difficult for us to view this fight as a fight of authoritarianism versus democracy, which it is. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin himself have defined it that way,” Turner said.

“We need to stand up for democracy. We have to make sure we know that authoritarian regimes never stop when they start aggression. Ukraine needs our help and assistance now, and this is a very critical time for the US Congress to step up and provide that assistance,” Turner continued.