Fox News host Tucker Carlson accused a Democratic member of the House of asking U.S. intelligence to “dig up dirt” on his show.
Rep. Jim Cooper of Tennessee, during a Wednesday closed-door briefing on Russia, “asked an intelligence briefer to find out if this show is tied to Russia,” Carlson said Friday.
Carlson said the congressman’s suspicions were off base.
“We’re not tied to Russia, of course. This is a cable television program. We’re not a diplomatic mission. Jim Cooper, needless to say, knows that,” Carlson said, noting that he has been critical of the Biden administration’s policies toward Ukraine, which is under threat of Russian invasion. Carlson said Cooper was acting in “retaliation.”
Carlson said Cooper “admitted it” when his team asked about the briefing request, but the congressman was “too cowardly” to appear on his show.
“Congressman Cooper is observing the first anniversary of his wife’s death from Alzheimer’s tonight, but he has every right to ask whatever questions he thinks are important for strengthening American security during confidential House Intelligence Committee hearings,” Cooper’s office said in a statement to Tucker Carlson Tonight obtained by the Washington Examiner.
The Washington Examiner also reached out to Cooper’s office for comment.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
The host said it is illegal to use the U.S. government to settle partisan scores or to silence opposition journalists.
“This is scary behavior. It is also revealing,” Carlson said, raising concerns about the abuse of intelligence agencies. Carlson accused the National Security Agency of spying on him last year.
