Matt Gaetz Embarrasses Himself Again in Congress- This Time Repeating Chinese Propaganda.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL)Photo byPublic Use

Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL) has been a loud detractor of the US providing military help to Ukraine in their fight against Russian aggression. He recently introduced a bill in Congress called the ‘Ukraine Fatigue Resolution’ calling for, in part, the support for Ukraine to be ended.

In a continuation of his seeming support for Russia, Gaetz referred to Chinese Communist Party talking points Tuesday during a hearing with Pentagon officials over Ukraine aid by citing an article by the party-controlled Global Times purporting that the U.S. is shuttling funds to Ukraine’s far-right Azov battalion.

Congress banned arms sales to the Azov Battalion in 2018 over its ties to neo-Nazis. When pressed on whether the Azov Battalion is “getting access to U.S. weapons,” Colin Kahl, the undersecretary of defense for policy, said he was not aware of any arms shipments reaching the group.

“I’m sorry, is this the Global Times from China?” Kahl asked Gaetz.

Gaetz fumbled, first claiming it wasn’t then, after looking at the publication more closely, sheepishly saying, “Yeah, it might be. Yeah.”

Kahl calmly responded, “As a general matter, I don’t take Beijing’s propaganda at face value.”

“Fair, fair enough,” an embarrassed Gaetz replied. “I would agree with that assessment.”

With the support of NATO and US military aid, Ukraine has been able to keep Russian forces at bay, though Russia has unleashed unprecedented destruction on the small country.

According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, Russian troops are being killed in what the Kremlin calls its “special military operation” at a monthly rate of at least 25 times the number killed in Chechnya and 35 times the number killed in Afghanistan.

Gaetz was most recently in the news when he announced he would not be charged in the sex-trafficking investigation that snared his good friend Joel Greenberg.

About the writer: Matthew Woodruff is an Independent Journalist and Author who believes in Freely Accessible, Honest and Open Reporting. Visit at MattWoodruffAuthor.com.