GOP senator still backs Trump reelection after calling Ukraine scandal 'serious issue'

Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) may dodge his constituents, but there is one topic where Gardner wants to make perfectly clear: He absolutely, 100% supports Donald Trump. And no scandal thus far has dissuaded Gardner from giving his full-throated and unambiguous endorsement to Trump’s 2020 reelection campaign, according to a Friday National Journal report.

When asked about Trump soliciting election interference from the leader of a foreign country (which is illegal), Gardner said it was “a serious issue.” At the time he was asked, Gardner refused to say whether or not he still supports Trump’s reelection.

After the National Journal published its story, a Gardner spokesperson reached out to the publication to clarify the senator’s position: Gardner still supports Trump in 2020.

The reiteration of the endorsement follows on the heels of the House of Representatives kicking off an impeachment inquiry into Trump based on the aforementioned call. On that call, Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to dig up political dirt on former Vice President Joe Biden. Trump’s apparent solicitation of election interference from a foreign leader comes after special counsel Robert Mueller found that some on Trump’s 2016 campaign welcomed the election interference efforts by Russia.

Gardner’s unwavering support of Trump comes as Gardner himself is also up for reelection in 2020. Colorado supported Hillary Clinton in 2016, and the 2018 election saw Democrats win every statewide election as well as gain control of the state Senate while retaining control of the state House and governor’s mansion.

Gardner is widely considered one of the most vulnerable GOP senators in the country, yet he will not abandon his support for Trump, no matter how many scandals pile up.

Gardner’s allegiance to Trump comes years after saying he could never, ever support someone like Trump.

After an “Access Hollywood” tape of Trump admitting he is a serial sexual predator surfaced in 2016, Gardner said that he “cannot and will not support someone who brags about degrading and assaulting women.” Gardner went so far as to call on Trump to step down, saying  the Republican Party deserved a “new nominee that reflects the values of our country and our party.”

Trump’s values have not changed, but Gardner still endorsed his 2020 reelection bid back in January, seemingly now at peace not only supporting but endorsing someone who brags about assaulting women.

Even after the White House released evidence showing Trump solicited campaign assistance from Ukraine, Gardner refuses to back off his support of Trump.

“We no longer know what principles guide the senator and regret giving him our support,” the Denver Post wrote in March, shortly after Gardner sided with Trump’s decision to take funding from military families and use it to build a border wall.

Trump can assault women, swipe money from military families, and even attempt to subvert democracy, but nothing Trump has done thus far has caused Gardner to withdraw his personal stamp of approval for Trump’s reelection.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.