Luther Strange mailer blasts Mo Brooks on Trump as Senate primary approaches
About six weeks away from the special primary for Alabama’s U.S. Senate seat, the battle is escalating between Incumbent Sen. Luther Strange and Congressman Mo Brooks, one of his top Republican opponents. A new mailer, paid for by the Strange for Senate committee, blasts Brooks for not supporting then-candidate Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential primary, as well as his criticism after Trump won the nomination. Brooks, Strange and former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore are the three leaders in a crowded GOP primary, with a (likely) September runoff, unless a single candidate gets 50 percent plus one in August. As reported by POLITICO, Strange’s mailer quotes Brooks as saying on MSNBC in February: “Trump voters are going to regret their votes.” After Trump won the nomination in May, Brooks told the Montgomery Advertiser: “Voters sure are facing some tough choices in November, aren’t they?” (He later admitted he would vote for Trump in November.)” The mailer proclaimed that “Luther Strange strongly supported our President from Day 1,” adding, “this was never a ‘tough choice’ for Luther Strange.” Appointed to the Senate in February by then-Governor Robert Bentley, Strange is facing a crowded 10-person field for the Aug. 15 Republican primary. A primary runoff, if necessary, will be Sept. 26; a general election is Dec. 12.
Mo Brooks tops in Huntsville straw poll, Luther Strange at bottom
Alabama Congressman Mo Brooks came out on top in a straw poll of U.S. Senate candidates at a candidate forum Monday in his hometown of Huntsville. AL.com reports that nine candidates took part in the event organized by the Christian Citizen Task Force, with a bipartisan audience of about 300 people. Out of 200 votes cast for Republicans, Brooks took first with 101 votes. Former state Supreme Chief Justice Roy Moore came in second with 74 votes; state Sen. Trip Pittman of Montrose received eight votes. Incumbent Republican Sen. Luther Strange — who did not attend the event — tied for sixth with only three votes. Three Republicans — James Beretta, Joseph Breault and Dom Gentile — received no votes. Democrats cast about 40 votes; leading the count was Brian McGee, who took 19 votes. According to AL.com, the candidates attending the forum were Democrats Will Boyd, Vann Caldwell and McGee; Republicans Randy Brinson, Brooks, Mary Maxwell, Moore, Bryan Peeples and Pittman. Appointed to the Senate in February by then-Governor Robert Bentley, Strange is facing a crowded 10-person field for the Aug. 15 Republican primary. A primary runoff, if necessary, will be Sept. 26, with a general election Dec. 12.
After delay, RNC finally gives OK to funding for Alabama special election
The Republican National Committee has approved funding for the Alabama special election, likely to support incumbent U.S. Sen. Luther Strange. As reported by POLITICO’s Alex Isenstadt, the long-delayed has recently become “a point of contention between Senate Republicans and the White House,” over Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ old seat. Much of the problem seems to rest with the convoluted campaign finance rules which Isenstadt describes as “weeks of closed-door talks, inflamed tensions between Senate GOP leaders and the administration and touched on a central issue: how the insurgent-minded Trump White House will approach party primaries.” The approval allows the National Republican Senatorial Committee to spend more than $350,000 on the race to benefit Strange, facing a crowded 10-person field for the Aug. 15 Republican primary, which includes U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks and former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore. A primary runoff, if necessary, will be Sept. 26; the general election is Dec. 12. Among those backing Strange are Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, through two McConnell-aligned groups — the NRSC and Senate Leadership Fund. For the past few weeks, McConnell has lobbied to get RNC to approve the cash infusion, but foot dragging so frustrated the majority leader that he appealed directly to former RNC chair and current White House chief of staff Reince Priebus. Strange also talked personally with President Donald Trump. Isenstadt writes that some close to McConnell thought the holdup could be due to bureaucratic disorganization — or the administration was intentionally staying out of the primary, giving a glimpse into how the White House might handle future political battles.
Early Donald Trump attacks could hurt Mo Brooks in U.S. Senate race
During the 2016 GOP presidential primary, Congressman Mo Brooks called then-candidate Donald Trump a “serial adulterer,” only offering tepid support for him in the general election. Brooks, now in the middle of a contentious Republican primary for the Alabama U.S. Senate seat once held by Attorney General Jeff Sessions – a key supporter of the president – could struggle because of those attacks on Trump, who won Alabama by nearly 30 points. In the past, Alabama Republicans have turned on GOP lawmakers they see as anti-Trump. Brooks, who is looking to defeat incumbent Sen. Luther Strange to serve the rest of Sessions’ term, could be called to task for his past comments on Trump. The Hill notes that Brooks’ remarks could hurt him in the race against Strange and former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore, well-known for his high-profile religious liberty battles. But in an interview with The Hill, Brooks downplayed Trump attacks, saying they were to support for Sen. Ted Cruz’s unsuccessful presidential bid. “When I’m in combat, a political fight, I use all weapons at my disposal, as I’m sure all of the candidates do,” Brooks said. “Once the fight was over with, it was important for our nominee to win the election.” Brooks added: “I’m not going to rehash the arguments I used to try to persuade voters to vote for the candidate of my choice in the primary, Ted Cruz. I will say, right now, Donald Trump is a vastly superior choice to the alternative of Hillary Clinton.” However, that’s a significantly different tone than February 2016, when Brooks told MSNBC a day before the Super Tuesday primaries: “I think what you are going to see 12 to 18 months from now is that a lot of people who have supported Donald Trump, they are going to regret having done so.” “I don’t support people who support adultery, and I don’t trust people who are serial adulterers, as Donald Trump has been and bragged about in writing because I don’t think that is an honorable thing or trait in a person,” he added. Nevertheless, since Trump’s victory, Brooks has become an outspoken supporter. In a speech on the House floor a few weeks after the election, Brooks defended Trump’s unsubstantiated claim that he “won the popular vote if you deduct the millions of people who voted illegally.” “A circus of left-wing media pundits immediately pounced on President-elect Trump’s opinion in an effort to silence serious discussion of the noncitizen voter fraud problem,” Brooks said. This change of heart may not be enough to sway Alabama voters, who already sent a message to Republican U.S. Rep. Martha Roby. Roby had also called for Trump to step aside after the release of the “Access Hollywood” tape where he makes lewd comments about grabbing women. Although Roby eventually won re-election, it was by only nine points – a much narrower margin than expected for her heavily-Republican district, which Trump won by 32 points.
With little fanfare, internal polling gives Roy Moore lead in U.S. Senate race
Sometimes, the most money (or pull) does not guarantee a candidate a polling lead. While incumbent Sen. Luther Strange has financial and institutional support, and U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks gathering congressional backing, it is former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore leading in the GOP primary for Strange’s Senate seat. As Daniel Strauss of POLITICO reports, Brooks’ internal polling is showing the firebrand ex-judge – who was suspended from the state Supreme Court over his refusal to honor the federal same-sex marriage ruling – leading the Republican primary field of nearly a dozen candidates with 31 percent. Strange is next at 23 percent, with Brooks at 21 percent; other candidates grouped below the 5 percent threshold. Moore has received less attention than his Washington-centric opponents for the Aug. 15 primary for Attorney General Jeff Sessions‘ old Senate seat. “But he could be an unusually strong obstacle for Strange in an age of unsettled Republican primaries,” Strauss writes. “Moore is hoping his years of high-profile religious fights on the Alabama Supreme Court will fuel his run more than a high-budget campaign would have.”
Defense bill passes committee with support of 3 Ala. members, boosts military, supports shipbuilding
The House Armed Services Committee (HASC) voted 60-1 to authorize $696.5 billion in defense spending for 2018 Wednesday night with the support of three Members of the Alabama delegation that sit on the committee. Reps. Bradley Byrne (AL-01), Mike Rogers (AL-03) and Mo Brooks (AL-05) all voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which authorizes funding and sets policy for the entire U.S. military. Many reforms were included in this year’s NDAA, including: Increases total military spending by 10% to rebuild from our current readiness crisis; Funds a 2.4% pay raise for our troops; Reforms the military’s acquisition process to make it more efficient; Improves oversight of cyber operations; Creates a new U.S. Space Corps to oversee the evolving space domain; Increases the size of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Guard and Reserve, Naval and Air Reserve, and Air Guard; Supports improvements to military facilities with a focus on restoration and modernization; and Authorizes construction of 13 new Navy ships to grow toward a 355 ship fleet. “This year’s National Defense Authorization Act helps rebuild our nation’s military, boosts shipbuilding in an effort to grow our fleet, and ensures our military men and women have the resources necessary to defend our country,” said Byrne of the NDAA. “Once again, we were able to secure authorization for the construction of three more Littoral Combat Ships, which are built right here in Southwest Alabama. These ships continue to excel in the fleet, and that is a testament to the over 4,000 men and women who work at the Mobile shipyard. The legislation included language important for Alabama’s 3rd Congressional District that affects the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and the Anniston Army Depot (ANAD). Language was also included to study some of the funding mechanisms of the depot in hopes of using the information to make workload planning more dependable and consistent. “The men and women and the Anniston Army Depot work very hard to support our nation’s warfighter and I want to ensure we are doing everything we can in Congress to support them,” said Rogers. “This is the first step in providing our nation’s military personnel with the resources needed to protect America,” remarked Brooks. “The FY18 NDAA authorizes a very substantial $62 billion increase over FY 2017 funding, thereby taking significant steps to reverse military declines and addressing America’s military readiness crisis by increasing the size of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Army Guard and Reserve, Naval and Air Reserve, and Air Guard.” The bill is expected to be considered by the full House in July.
Mo Brooks introduces bill to allow federal lawmakers to carry guns
Alabama 5th District U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks‘s name was on a target list of Congressional Republicans carried by the Alexandria gunman last week. Now the Congressman has introduced legislation that would empower him and his congressional colleagues to to be able to carry to carry a concealed weapon like law enforcement personnel, nationwide to ensure their safety. H.R. 2940, the Congressional Self-Defense Act allows lawmakers to carry a concealed weapon anywhere in America except the U.S. Capitol or when in the presence of the President or Vice President. Brooks was at the recent baseball practice where a shooter attempted to assassinate Republican Members of Congress. The shooter possessed a handwritten assassination list that not only included Brooks’ name, but also his office number. “Last week’s shooting at the Republican baseball practice highlighted and reinforced the increasing number of threats faced by Congressmen, Senators, and their families,” said Brooks. “The truth is, if Steve Scalise’s leadership detail had not been present at last week’s practice, many of my colleagues and I might not be alive today. If Congressmen or Senators at the practice had firearms, there is a strong possibility that the shootout would have ended earlier than it did.” His bill would let lawmakers to carry guns in parts of the nation’s capital where firearms are currently banned “Surprisingly, because of Washington, D.C.’s restrictive gun laws, Congressmen and Senators are not allowed to carry a concealed weapon,” explained Brooks. “That is why today I introduced the Congressional Self-Defense Act to allow lawmakers to conceal carry so that they are better positioned to defend themselves against lone wolf and terrorist attacks.”
Alabama’s GOP Senate hopefuls meet in Oxford for debate
The Calhoun County Republican Party hosted a candidate forum Tuesday night for the state’s GOP Senate hopefuls. Christian Coalition president Randy Brinson, Alabama 5th District U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, former Chief Justice Roy Moore and state Sen. Trip Pittman were all in attendance for the Oxford, Ala. debate. “We are honored to have the opportunity to host this event, as this is such an important election,” Calhoun County Republican Party Chairman James Bennett said. “This is a great accomplishment for our local party and for our community.” Moderated by radio personality Jay Holland, the debate featured panelists in diverse areas of expertise who queried the candidates throughout the evening, as they jockeyed for support from the crowd. Panelists included: Former Congressman Dr. Glen Browder Professor Emiratis Jacksonville State University. Lt Colonel Brian Reed, U.S. Army Retired, former faculty member West Point Dr. William Lester, Professor Political Science, Jacksonville State University, Fulbright Scholar and published author Larry Huff, Executive Editor of Yellowhammer News, statewide online publication Sen. Luther Strange, who was appointed to the seat in February following its vacancy when Jeff Sessions accepted the U.S. Attorney position, was invited to the forum but was unable to attend.
Steve Scalise will need more surgery following shooting
A rifle-wielding attacker opened fire on Republican lawmakers as they practiced for a charity baseball game Wednesday, critically wounding House GOP Whip Steve Scalise of Louisiana and hitting aides and Capitol police as congressmen and others dove for cover. The assailant, who had nursed grievances against President Donald Trump and the GOP, fought a gun battle with police before he, too, was shot and later died. Colleagues said Scalise had been fielding balls at second base at a local park in Alexandria, just across the Potomac River from the nation’s capital, as the Republicans practiced for their annual game with Democrats. He dragged himself away from the infield leaving a trail of blood before fellow lawmakers could rush to his assistance. He was listed in critical condition Wednesday night at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, which said he will require several more operations. The hospital says he was shot in the left hip, after which ‘‘the bullet traveled across his pelvis, fracturing bones, injuring internal organs and causing severe bleeding.’’ The shooter was identified as James T. Hodgkinson, a 66-year-old home inspector from Illinois who had several minor run-ins with the law in recent years and belonged to a Facebook group called ‘‘Terminate the Republican Party.’’ He had been living out of his van in the Alexandria area in recent months, the FBI said Capitol Police officers who were in Scalise’s security detail wounded the shooter. He later died of his injuries, Trump told the nation from the White House. The attack on Republicans practicing for a ballgame deeply shook a capital already balancing on what often seems to be a razor’s edge. ‘‘Everyone on that field is a public servant,’’ Trump said, his tone somber, America’s acrimonious politics set aside for the moment. ‘‘Their sacrifice makes democracy possible.’’ Lawmakers noted their good fortune in having armed protectors on hand — ‘‘Thank God,’’ they exclaimed over and over — and said otherwise the shooter would have been able to take a huge deadly toll. The events left the capital horrified and stunned, and prompted immediate reflection on the current hostility and vitriol in American politics. Lawmakers called for a new dialogue on lowering the partisan temperature, and Trump urged Americans to come together as he assumed the role of national unifier for one of the first times in his presidency. Trump later visited the hospital where Scalise was recovering. The president then tweeted: ‘‘Rep. Steve Scalise, one of the truly great people, is in very tough shape – but he is a real fighter. Pray for Steve!’’ Proceedings were canceled for the day in the House, and instead, Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California issued their own calls for unity. ‘‘An attack on one of us is an attack on all of us,’’ Ryan said, to prolonged applause. Shortly after the shooting, Bernie Sanders, the former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, said on the Senate floor that the shooter apparently was a volunteer for his campaign last year. Sanders said he denounced the violence ‘‘in the strongest possible terms.’’ Scalise, 51, the No. 3 House Republican leader, was first elected in 2008. The popular and gregarious lawmaker is known for his love of baseball and handed out commemorative bats when he secured the job of House whip several years ago. Texas Rep. Roger Williams said that one of his aides, Zack Barth, was shot but was doing well and expected to fully recover. Two Capitol Police officers sustained relatively minor injuries. A former congressional aide was hospitalized. The shooting occurred at a popular park and baseball complex where Republican lawmakers and others were gathered for a morning practice about 7 a.m. They were in good spirits despite the heat and humidity as they prepared for the annual congressional baseball match that pits Republicans against Democrats. The popular annual face-off, which raises money for charity, is scheduled for Thursday evening at Nationals Park across the Potomac River in Washington, and will go forward as planned. Hodgkinson has been in the area since March, living out of his van, said Washington FBI Special Agent In Charge Tim Slater. Democratic former Alexandria Mayor Bill Euille said he had spoken often with the man on recent mornings at the nearby YMCA. Hodgkinson’s apparent Facebook page included strong criticism of Republicans and the Trump administration. But Slater said authorities were still working to determine a motive and had no indication Hodgkinson knew about the baseball practice ahead of time. The GOP lawmakers’ team was taking batting practice when gunshots rang out and chaos erupted. After Scalise was hit, said Rep. Mo Brooks, an Alabama Republican, the congressman ‘‘crawled into the outfield, leaving a trail of blood.’’ ‘‘We started giving him the liquids, I put pressure on his wound in his hip,’’ Brooks said. The gunman had a rifle and ‘‘a lot of ammo,’’ said Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona, who was at the practice. Texas Rep. Joe Barton, still in his baseball uniform, told reporters that Scalise’s security detail, Capitol Hill police and then Alexandria police returned fire in a battle that lasted as long as 10 minutes and included dozens of shots. ‘‘The security detail saved a lot of lives,’’ he said. ‘‘It was scary.’’ Lawmakers took cover in the dugout. Barton said his son, Jack, got under an SUV. Texas Rep. Mike Conaway described what sounded like an explosion, then lawmakers scattering off the field as police roamed in search of the gunman and engaged him. ‘‘The guy’s down to a handgun, he dropped his rifle, they shoot him, I go over there, they put him in handcuffs,’’ Conaway said, adding that if the shooter had ‘‘gotten inside the fence, where a bunch of guys were holed up in the dugout, it would have been like shooting fish in a barrel.’’ Rep. Jeff Duncan of South Carolina said he had just left the practice and encountered the apparent gunman in the parking lot before the shooting.
Mo Brooks describes Va. shooting, assists wounded
Mo Brooks gave a firsthand account of the shooting that injured Republican Steve Scalise of Louisiana during congressional baseball practice just outside of Washington. Several other people were also believed to have been hit, according to the Alabama congressman who witnessed the shooting. Brooks told CNN Wednesday morning he heard “a loud bam, seeing a rifle and then another bam,” and heard Scalise scream. Brooks continued: “He continues to fire at different people, you can imagine all the people on the field scatter. I run around to the first base side on the batting cage … and hide behind the plastic. … Gunfire continues. Heard a break in the gunfire and decided to take a chance.” Brooks added that there were about “50 to 100 shots fired,” and that he used his belt to apply a tourniquet to one of the injured. Brooks said security guards returned fire and the shooter shot the security detail, circling around third base. “My understanding it that’s where our security detail …” he said, “still defending us, took him down. Once we got the all clear that the shooter was down, we went out to the outfield for Steve Scalise, he had crawled out in the outfield leaving a trail of blood.” Brooks said at least five people were wounded, Brooks said. “The gun continued to fire” .@RepMoBrooks gives first person account of shooting at baseball field in Alexandria https://t.co/fWv9P3i9P9 — New Day (@NewDay) June 14, 2017
Alabama delegation reacts to Jeff Sessions testimony on Russia
Former Alabama U.S. Senator and current U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions appeared Tuesday at a public hearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence to testify in the ongoing investigation into Russian tampering in the 2016 presidential election. Sessions’ hearing follows fired FBI Director James Comey‘s. Comey testified before the same committee less than a week ago. During the highly contentious hearing, Sessions said any suggestion he colluded with Russians during the election was an “appalling” lie. “Please, colleagues, hear me on this,” he said. Here’s what the Alabama delegation thought of their former Congressional colleague’s testimony: Sen. Luther Strange: My friend Jeff Sessions demonstrated today why the people of Alabama trust him and why President Donald Trump chose him to be our Attorney General – a complete commitment to integrity, transparency and the rule of law. I trust the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee to finish this investigation swiftly and allow Congress to return to the business of implementing President Trump’s agenda to repeal Obamacare, reform our tax code, rebuild our military and rollback red-tape. Alabama 1st District U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne: I am not at all surprised that the Jeff Sessions who testified today was the same Jeff Sessions I have known for almost forty years. He was honest, knowledgeable of the law, direct, and professional. I continue to have complete confidence and trust in him as he serves as our Attorney General. Alabama 2nd District U.S. Rep. Martha Roby: I applaud Attorney General Sessions for testifying publicly before the Senate Intelligence Committee. I’m glad he took the opportunity to forcefully defend himself and set the record straight amid unfair partisan attacks. I have always known Attorney General Sessions to be a man of the highest integrity, and he demonstrated that today. Alabama 3rd District U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers: Thank goodness for Jeff Sessions. He is a man of the highest integrity and honesty. The American people heard the truth today. Now it’s time for the liberal media elite and the Democrats to stop their frivolous attacks on President Trump so we can start the people’s work. Alabama 4th District U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt: Jeff Sessions testimony showed that he is not far removed from the Eagle Scout who grew up in Camden, Alabama. His testimony today was honest, open and direct. And just as the Scout oath says, I believe Sessions will continue to do his duty to God and to his country. If there is anything there, I certainly believe we need to get to the bottom of the attempts by the Russian government to influence our election process. However, I have still not seen a single piece of evidence that Russian interference changed a single vote back on November 8th and certainly not thousands of votes that were cast for Mr. Trump in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Alabama 5th District U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks: We have clear unambiguous testimony by Attorney General Jeff Sessions that he has in no way, shape, or form colluded with Russians concerning 2016 elections. It is time for the Democrat Party, Democrat elected officials, and the Democrat Communications Wing (the mainstream news media) to put up or shut up. If any of them have evidence – not hearsay, not gossip, not partisan-motivated lies – that conflicts with Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ sworn testimony, they must produce it or quit assassinating his character so that we can put this matter behind us. The American people deserve far better than the innuendo and falsities Democrats spread in a hyper-partisan effort to impugn the honor and integrity of Jeff Sessions, one of Alabama’s best. Alabama 6th District U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer: While I was unable to hear Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee, I am confident that he is a man of highest character and has conducted himself with the highest integrity. Attorney General Jeff Sessions has spent practically his entire career serving the people of the United States, first as a U.S. Attorney then as a U.S. Senator and now as Attorney General, and working faithfully to uphold the rule of law. Alabama 7th District U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell: Did not respond to request for comment
First Senate Leadership Fund ad touts Luther Strange as strong Alabama conservative
Luther Strange is the beneficiary of Senate Leadership Fund’s first TV ad, which began running Tuesday in Alabama’s U.S. Senate special election. The 30-second ad portrays the incumbent GOP senator, who previously served as Alabama Attorney General, as a conservative with a strong record on religious liberty, gun rights and fighting illegal immigration. “When Barack Obama launched an assault on our religious freedoms, Big Luther Strange said, ‘no way,”‘ the ad’s narrator says. “He stood up to Obama’s illegal amnesty plan too. And fought for our Second Amendment rights, earning Big Luther an A+ rating and an endorsement from the NRA.’” Senate Leadership Fund is connected to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell; the group purchased a $2.4 million in ad time on Alabama television and radio stations in Birmingham and Mobile from June 13 to June 27. Ads are set to run through the day of the Aug. 15 special election primary. Strange’s most arduous challenges in the GOP primary — U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks and former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore — have also pushed their hard-line conservative social positions. But as POLITICO noted last month: “It doesn’t hurt that Strange is polished, predictable and low-key, in addition to having existing relationships with many Republicans from the South.” If there is no clear winner Aug. 15, a runoff will be Sept. 26. The special election is Dec. 12.
