Rand Paul is acting all dramatic again.
The antigay senator from Kentucky just sent a letter to Gen. Paul Nakasone of the National Security Agency demanding an investigation into alleged spying on Fox News’ resident homophobe Tucker Carlson.
To make a very long and very boring story short: Last month, Carlson claimed that the NSA was monitoring his texts and emails and plotting to have his show yanked from the air after he reached out to Russian President Vladimir Putin for an interview.
Of course, he didn’t actually offer any evidence to support his claims, but the agency still had to issue a rare statement denying the allegations, stating that the cable news personality “has never been an intelligence target of the Agency and the NSA has never had any plans to try to take his program off the air.”
How about we take this to the next level?
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A statement from NSA regarding recent allegations: pic.twitter.com/vduE6l6YWg
— NSA/CSS (@NSAGov) June 30, 2021
Now, Paul is calling for an investigation into whether the NSA was lying about Carlson lying and is demanding more details to help get to the bottom of things.
“Mr. Carlson is a journalist,” he wrote in his letter to Nakasone, “and as such he is to be afforded the freedom of the press protections guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.”
Rand went on to accuse the NSA of “a long train of abuses” and said the agency’s “carefully worded denial” should not be trusted.
“As the head of the NSA, you can help restore credibility to your agency by being completely honest with the American people,” he continued before demanding Nakasone explain “in detail whether the NSA conducted surveillance on Tucker Carlson.”
But he wasn’t finished yet.
Rand then took to Twitter to accuse the agency of being untrustworthy.
“The NSA must do more than tweet a carefully worded denial to be trusted,” he tweeted earlier today.
The NSA must do more than tweet a carefully worded denial to be trusted. https://t.co/SVRkK1NrUN
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) July 12, 2021
Then he took it a step further by having his wife, Kelley, tweet about it as well.
About an hour after her husband’s tweet, she logged on to warn her 50K followers that the “surveillance state” was coming for them.
“Every American who values privacy, due process and freedom should support this,” she wrote. “Eventually the surveillance state will come for you.”
Every American who values privacy, due process and freedom should support this. Eventually the surveillance state will come for you. https://t.co/C0Vnx08l88
— Kelley Paul (@KelleyAshbyPaul) July 12, 2021
Keep in mind, this is all coming from a man and a woman who twice claimed they were the victims of failed assassination attempts in the last year. So anything they say should be taken with a huge grain of salt.
In May, the couple accused ’80s adult contemporary singer Richard Marx of sending a large envelope containing white powder to them. (A test determined the substance was not dangerous.)
And last August, they claimed an “crazed mob” of “over 100” tried to kill them in Washington, D.C. (Video of the incident, however, did not corroborate their story and authorities chose not to pursue an investigation.)
Now, the responses…
Claims made without evidence may be dismissed without evidence.
— Cross-eyed Bear (@kevinh8swriting) July 12, 2021
Rand Paul must do more then a vagely worded tweet to be taken seriously
— Malachi Conway (@mtconway3) July 12, 2021
Firstly, unfounded claims by Tucker do not constitute a prima face case worthy of review. We don’t chase wild allegations. Secondly, give us a Jan 6th select committee & you can have a let’s stop Tucker crying investigation.
— Steven H. Davies (@shd8531) July 12, 2021
The cajones on you to talk about trust…
— FrankC_PartDeux (@FrankACarfora1) July 12, 2021
We can’t even get a carefully worded tweet from you apologizing for January 6th
— Operation 147 (@147Operation) July 12, 2021
So far he’s provided absolutely no evidence
Seems a weak attempt to distract from his other issues
— FearlessFreep 🏳️🌈 (@FFreep) July 12, 2021
Must do more is a great summary of your entire career.
— 🐘🦋🐝Fionna🐝🦋🐘 (@FionnaGlenanne) July 12, 2021
Any convincing evidence that they can’t be trusted?
— Ronald SR 🇪🇺 (@ronaldscherpen1) July 12, 2021
Let’s investigate why it was perfectly fine for Trump to do the very same thing to journalists he didn’t like.
— TheMouthyOne (@mouthy_the) July 12, 2021
Tucker Carlson must do more than just make assertions on his TV show that his own employer says no one should take seriously.
And yet, here you are taking him seriously.
— Ahphuqueue (@ahphukket) July 12, 2021
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Jim
Ah, I see the problem. Poor Rand thinks Tucker is a journalist.
I know it won’t be easy but can somebody explain to him what a journalist is?
Mister P
Fox likes to say they are entertainment and not news as soon as they are challenged on their facts.
Kangol2
Was Tucker White Supremacist TV Dinners Carlson captured on a wire talking to targets the NSA is surveilling, like, oh, Russian government officials or people linked them officials? In fact, I think I read that allegation, so if that’s what was going on, for whatever the reason, Senator Rancid can investigate, and then let us all know whom FoxNews’s evening wackadoodle was chatting up. He’ll gladly share that info under oath, right?
JRamonMc
I hardly think that Tucker Carlson’s conspiracy theories can be considered journalism.
Mack
As usual, all mouth and no proof. Typical right wingers, they see a conspiracy in every fart and shit.
BoomerMyles
I wish Rand’s neighbor had finished the job.
BoylesqueBubble
No deflecting that he’s such a c*nt! They’re all awful!
garybw
Isn’t it interesting that GOP gay or pay always hate themselves. Another say what ever it takes to get elected
Gordon of the Bassets
General Nakasone is a damn fine-looking man. In view of his ancestry I wouldn’t be surprised if Rand and Tucker want him locked up in a concentration camp in the USA’s coldest/hottest most desert state.
Prax07
Carlson’s not a journalist in any way, shape, or form. Not sure what exactly you’d call him, a mouthpiece for conspiracies? He’s definitely not any kind of journalist. Just like Paul isn’t a public servant. They may call themselves whatever they want, doesn’t make it true. Though I bet they’ve at least given each other handjobs before, that’s more believable than anything.
radiooutmike
How about calling Carlson a bloviating idiot? For starters…
Fahd
All part of the nihilistic trajectory that is the Republican party. They want to distract us while they destabilize the democracy. Paul is just mad because Trump brought a herd of politicians into the Congress who are more obnoxious and clueless than he is.
Rand Paul is a disgrace to libertarians and to the legacy of his father.
connorlarkin19
Rand Paul and father are extremist reactionaries. There has never been one successful Libertarian government. Fascist, authoritarian are populist but not libertarian although they have libertarian features.
GayEGO
Rand Paul thinks lying is free speech, so typical of GOPs!
tjack47
Instructions on voting for the candidate with your best interests at heart ought be disseminated in Kentucky. Paul and Yurtle the Turtle aren’t doing anything for their own welfare state.