What in the actual…

Yes, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) claimed on the Senate floor that Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) now works for Russian President Vladimir Putin because Paul voted against allowing Montenegro into NATO:

McCain tried to call up the treaty and warned that anyone blocking it would be helping Russia maintain its influence over the small country across the Adriatic Sea from Italy. “If there’s objection, you are achieving the objectives of Vladimir Putin,” McCain warned. “If they object, they are now carrying out the desires and ambitions of Vladimir Putin, and I do not say that lightly.”

McCain noted that Paul objected and left the floor without talking about his vote. According to McCain, one can only conclude that Paul has no argument or justification for his vote.

“So I repeat it again. The senator from Kentucky is now working for Vladimir Putin.”

Without hesitation, Paul quickly defended his decision:

Paul released a statement after the incident that said the huge and growing national debt is why the U.S. should not take on any additional commitments around the world. “Currently, the United States has troops in dozens of countries and is actively fighting in Iraq, Syria, Libya, and Yemen (with the occasional drone strike in Pakistan),” Paul said. “In addition, the United States is pledged to defend 28 countries in NATO.” “It is unwise to expand the monetary and military obligations of the United States given the burden of our $20 trillion debt,” he said.



