‘Watergate’ reporter reveals real names of 21 Republicans who swear by Trump

Carl Bernstein, who covered former US President Richard Nixon’s Watergate case, revealed a list of 21 Republican lawmakers who spoke privately about US President Donald Trump.

Carl Bernstein, who exposed the Watergate case, revealed a list of 21 Republican lawmakers who had privately indicted President Donald Trump. [AP=연합뉴스]

On the night of the 22nd (local time), Bernstein revealed the real names of the legislators through his Twitter, stating that “they repeatedly and dramatically despised President Trump in private.” They also wrote that they ignored President Trump and said he was not suitable as president.

The list included a large number of lawmakers who had publicly opposed President Trump and who had indirectly criticized him.

The representatives were Mitt Romney, Susan Collins and Rama Alexander. These are the ones who recognized Biden’s victory and sent messages of congratulations early. Through personal Twitter and official remarks, President Trump also admitted defeat in the presidential election and insisted that Biden should help take control and take over the regime.

He also protested President Trump’s continued exercise of staff rights after the defeat of the presidential election. On the 17th, President Trump rejected the preliminary vote against the nomination of Judy Shelton as the board of the Federal Reserve System (Fed). Congressman Collins was the only Republican to vote against the Senate in a vote to ratify Senate Judge Amy Connie Barrett just before the presidential election.

Bernstein’s list also mentioned Congressman Marco Rubio, who has been criticizing President Trump’s allegations of voter fraud. Rep. Rubio said, “Creves did a great job” when President Trump fired the head of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cyber ​​Security and Infrastructure Administration (CISA).

In addition, he stayed away from President Trump, saying: “If you think you are violating electoral laws, you have the right to appeal in court and present evidence to support your claims.”

Others included lawmakers Rob Portman, Lisa Merkoski and Van Sas, who were not officially admitted to Biden’s victory, saying, “If President Trump intends to claim a fraudulent election,” he said.

Senator Marco Rubio, who has always stayed away from President Donald Trump, has also been on the list of congressmen who criticized Trump. [로이터=연합뉴스]

Bernstein noted that “the public silence of the rest of the legislators on the list made possible the action of President Trump to undermine confidence in the US electoral system.” He added that he learned of the information through private conversations with fellow legislators, advisers, lobbyists and White House officials, and as a journalist, he did not break any confidentiality promises.

Lawmakers listed in the reveal of Bernstein’s tweet responded immediately. Congressman Chuck Grasley insisted through a spokesman that “it is not true.” A spokesman for Congressman Grasley rebutted: “She is a strong supporter of President Trump and was not silent when she opposed him.”

Congressman Portman said, “I have never spoken with contempt for Bernstein and President Trump, and I don’t know where he came from when he heard this misinformation.”

The Associated Press estimates that while American journalists often exchange honest ideas about President Trump in private meetings with active lawmakers, it is rare to reveal the name of a lawmaker like Bernstein.

Roy Gerterman, a professor at Syracuse University and an expert on media law and ethics, said: “The way Bernstein revealed his real name is an unusual case.”

Reporter Lee Min-jung [email protected]