Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) discussed the fallout from Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's declassification of documents suggesting that former President Barack Obama's White House was involved in manufacturing the discredited "Russian collusion" narrative in a recent appearance on Fox Business's Mornings with Maria.
"We have known that there was a concerted effort coming from the [Obama] Administration to basically try and destroy President Trump in his first term, and so that did not happen by osmosis," Rep. Diaz-Balart began, adding, "Somebody had to give the order because it was coordinated. It looks like right now, which we all suspected, that this goes all the way to the top, potentially from President Obama himself."
Rep. Diaz-Balart further expressed gratitude for the reveal, "because this was an actual coup attempt," and emphasized the importance of further investigation.
Host Cheryl Casone cited Fox News contributor Gregg Jarrett in asking what happens next now that evidence of the Obama White House's involvement in the Russian collusion narrative has been revealed, inquiring whether priority lies in more urgent issues the Trump Administration seeks to resolve.
"You can do two things at the same time," the Florida Congressman answered, adding, "I think it is very important that we follow the facts and that we follow that trail wherever it leads. We should not be politicizing. We have to be very thoughtful."
However, Diaz-Balart continued, "You cannot allow, if that in fact happened, which I suspect it did, you cannot allow, in essence, a coup. An organized, planned, aggressive coup to take place or almost take place, and no consequences for that action, but it has to be done seriously."
Still, he further noted that Democrats would not be happy if their party leadership was indeed involved in the frame-up, but "We have to get our job done. And part of that job is investigating if there was a potential coup attempt."
Diaz-Balart's colleague, Representative Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL), similarly called for arrests of those involved in the "Russiagate" story, saying, "This is not a Democrat or Republican thing. This is about the health and the sanctity of our constitutional republic. And so there needs to be arrests. This is not partisan. This is simply illegal. What they did, and we're simply upholding the law."
