Carl Bernstein Names 21 Republican Senators Who've Privately Ripped Trump

The legendary reporter called out the "craven public silence" that "has helped enable Trump’s most grievous conduct."
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Journalist Carl Bernstein on Sunday night called out Republicans in the Senate who he said have privately ripped Donald Trump while publicly remaining silent as the president attempts to undermine the results of the election via lawsuits based on false claims.

And he’s naming names.

In a Twitter thread, Bernstein identified 21 lawmakers who he said have “expressed extreme contempt for Trump & his fitness to be POTUS” behind the scenes.

The Watergate reporter said he wasn’t breaking any promises of confidentiality because these senators have all expressed their disdain for Trump to others, including staff, lobbyists and White House aides.

Most Republican lawmakers have been loath to criticize Trump publicly throughout his presidency. However, several of the senators that Bernstein named have publicly urged Trump to move on from the election, including Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who said on Sunday that “it is time to begin the full and formal transition process” for President-elect Joe Biden.

On Saturday, Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) did the same, telling Trump that he has now “exhausted all plausible legal” challenges and that it’s time to concede.

Republican Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah), Susan Collins (Maine) and Ben Sasse (Nebraska) have all acknowledged Biden’s victory. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) referred to Biden as the “president-elect,” and Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) said Biden would “probably” be inaugurated and called for him to receive intelligence briefings.

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