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FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., doubled down on his opposition to Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), saying it would be an extremely provocative action toward the "pariah nation" of Russia.

Fox News Digital asked the senator on Thursday about his prediction on if or when Russia will invade, to which he responded that no one knows, but that it would be a "great downside" for "pariah nation" Russia.

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"I think nobody knows, I'm still hopeful that they won't invade. I think there's a great downside for Russia. They are already somewhat of a pariah nation, but I think they become more excluded from things, and I think there will be significant repercussions from the Europeans who buy a lot of natural gas from them if they invade Ukraine. So I think they need to know this is not going to, they're not going to get just a pass on this."

Rand Paul on Hannity. (Fox News)

The senator also doubled down on his criticism of Ukraine joining NATO, saying it would likely provoke and anger Russia and isn't the United States' problem to solve.

"On the other side of the coin, though, I do think it would be good, and it was at least a statement from the Ukrainian prime minister and the German saying there is no imminent call to put Ukraine in NATO. They should have been saying that for a decade or more. It's a dumb idea to put Ukraine in NATO, and it's a very provocative one. I asked the secretary of state the other day, Blinken, I said, What do you think our response would be if Mexico were joining a military alliance with Russia against the United States? We would be hopping mad."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukraines President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said recently that Ukraine's NATO membership is not on the table for the alliance, at the current moment.

United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks as he greets embassy staff at the U.S. embassy, in Kyiv, Ukraine, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

These statements come after President Biden and the State Department have expressed support for NATO's "open door" policy when it comes to Ukraine. However, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said during a press briefing recently that it will be up to Ukraine to fulfill membership requirements in order to join the alliance down the road, if the country decides to do so.

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"So we have to understand that asking countries right on the border of Russia that used to be part of Russia to be in a military alliance against Russia is just a foolhardy idea. Kissinger said this, many others have said this, and I think we should offer them the carrot of that, that they won't be in NATO and at the same time, tell them, though, that if you invade there, the repercussions will be very, very costly and these will be economic repercussions. But all of that requires the cooperation of Europe because we don't buy that much from Russia," Paul told Fox News Digital.

Henry Kissinger, the former secretary of state and national security advisor under Presidents Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, held similar views as the Kentucky senator.

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 11: U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) questions Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing to discuss the ongoing federal response to COVID-19 on May 11, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images)

In a recent op-ed, Paul points out that Kissinger advised that Ukraine should remain neutral to survive due to its geographical location. Kissinger previously wrote, "For Ukraine to survive, "it must not be either sides outpost against the other it should function as a bridge between them."

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Paul threatened on Thursday to block a quick passage of the Senate resolution pledging support for Ukraine. The resolution required unanimous consent, meaning every senator had to agree in order to pass it in a timely manner.

"We have some amendments to it. We believe that it should say nothing in this resolution is to be construed as an authorization of war and nothing in this resolution is to be construed as authorizing the use of troops into Ukraine," Paul reportedly said.

Paul's amendment, that nothing should be construed as a declaration of war, was accepted and included in the resolution, which passed Thursday evening.

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Rand Paul says Ukraine joining NATO is a 'dumb idea', that would provoke 'pariah nation' of Russia - Fox News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:February 18, 2022Contact: Press_Paul@paul.senate.gov, 202-224-4343

WASHINGTON, D.C. Yesterday, U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, sent a letter to Isabella Guzman, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), requesting information on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF), which provided grants to some eligible restaurants, bars, and other businesses impacted by COVID-19.As you know, the RRF obligated nearly $28.6 billion to more than 100,000 eligible entities. As reported by the SBA, more than 278,000 eligible applicants requested grants accounting for more than $72.2 billion. Despite the program window closing seven months ago, this Committee does not have sufficient information regarding the current applicant queue and their funds requested to aid business losses, Dr. Paul stated in the letter.Dr. Paul is requesting the following data no later than February 23, 2022.

In addition, Dr. Pauls office previously requested the following information on the RRF on May 18, 2021.

You can read the full letter HERE.

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Dr. Rand Paul Sends Letter to SBA Requesting Information on the Restaurant Revitalization Fund | Senator Rand Paul - Senator Rand Paul

Putin announces military operation in Ukraine

In a televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his country's military offensive in Ukraine early Thursday.

AP

The Bluegrass State is more than 5,000 miles from Ukraine, but Russia's overnight invasion of the European country still sent shockwaves through the commonwealth.

Several members of Kentucky's congressional delegation and other local political figures weighed in Thursday morning in the hours after the attack was launched on Ukraine, which has a population of about 44 million and had traditionally been seen as a buffer between Russia and NATO-aligned European nations to its west.

Gov. Andy Beshear, in a video address posted Thursday morning to social media, warned that while Kentuckians would not be called upon to fight in the conflict, its impact would be felt in other ways back home higher gas prices are likely, for instance, he said.

From USA TODAY: Russia declares war, launches attack in Ukraine

"This is a small price to pay to stop this act of aggression, though I understand we will all feel it," Beshear said."What I'd ask is that this be a time of unity. This should be a reminder that we have real enemies overseas that want to harm us and others, and that we are not each other's enemies. It's time for America to be united, every single one of us, against this external threat."

Reactions weren't limited to Kentucky's governor.

Sen. Mitch McConnell, who serves as the U.S. Senate Minority Leader, said during a Thursday press conference in Kentucky that the withdrawal from Afghanistan last year sent a signal that "America is in retreat" and was "an invitation" to autocrats like Russian President Vladimir Putin to take action against foreign nations they consider to be enemies.

Serious action, McConnell added, should be taken against Russia.

"We're all together at this point and we need to be together about what should be done," McConnell said. "But I have some advice ratchet the sanctions all the way up. Don't hold any back. Every single available tough sanction should be employed and should be employed now."

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Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican who has repeatedly called for the U.S. to stay out of foreign conflicts that don't directly impact the nation, said the invasion "will further isolate Russia and lead to a pariah status not seen since the Cold War ended."

Congressional representatives from around the commonwealth also weighed in.

Rep. Andy Barr, who represents parts of Central and Eastern Kentucky and is a member ofthe House Foreign Affairs Committee, said the invasion "represents a naked attempt to re-litigate the terms of the endof the Cold War" and placed blame on President Joe Biden's "weak and feckless foreign policy" in a statement.

He called on the administration to impose additional sanctions against Russia and to provide additional Foreign Military Financing and arms sales to Ukraine.

Rep. John Yarmuth, who represents Louisville, wrote that he is praying for peace and for the people of Ukraine, describing the invasion as "an undeniable and unprovoked act of war against an independent, sovereign nation."

"The entire world must stand together in opposition to such evil," he wrote.

Rep. Thomas Massie, who represents Northern Kentucky, on Wednesday signed a bipartisan letter "to remind the President that Congress alone has the authority to declare war" but had not publicly commented further as of Thursday afternoon.

Rep. Hal Rogers, who represents Eastern Kentucky as well as southern portions of the commonwealth, tweeted Thursday afternoon that "Putins brazen strikes on Ukraine are an international breach of peace and an evil attempt to extend his reach of power."

"I firmly condemn this deadly attack and I pray for Gods protection over the people of Ukraine, as well as added strength in their defense," Rogers tweeted. "The United States must be bold in holding Russia accountable and thwart Putins unjustified aggression against a sovereign nation."

Rep. Brett Guthrie, who represents portions of Central and Western Kentucky, called the invasion "unlawful & indefensible" in a Twitter post and called on Biden to take action "by restoring American energy independence and protecting Americans from surging energy prices."

And Rep. James Comer, who represents much of Western Kentucky, condemned Putin and the invasion in a statement Thursday as well, saying he supported sanctions against Russia.

"In the battle between freedom and tyranny, freedom must always win," Comer wrote."Our prayers are with the people of Ukraine, our servicemen and women overseas, and all Americans left in Ukraine.

This story has beenupdated.

Lucas Aulbach can be reached at laulbach@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4649 or on Twitter @LucasAulbach.

Continued here:
Kentucky politicians react to 'undeniable and unprovoked act of war' in Ukraine - Courier Journal

Jordan Morgan (right with her father C. Wesley Morgan in a photo from Facebook) was shot dead on Tuesday during a home invasion.

The daughter of a Republican former state representative from Kentucky was shot and killed during an early morning home invasion earlier this week, authorities say.

Jordan Morgan, 32, was killed when an intruder broke into her familys $6.5 million home in Richmond at around 4:30 a.m. on Tuesday, according to Kentucky State Police. Her father, Clinton Wesley Morgan, confirmed that his daughter had been murdered in an interview with the Lexington Herald-Leader.

Mr. Morgan also revealed that he had been wounded while exchanging gunfire with the intruder, saying he and his wife had been shot at. He made a full recovery and was released from the hospital that same day while his wife managed to avoid suffering any injuries.

On Thursday, authorities provided an update identifying the suspect as 23-year-old Shannon V. Gilday of Taylor Mill, Kentucky.

Gilday forced his way into the home at approximately 4:00 am, armed with a rifle and fatally shot 32-year-old Jordan Morgan while she was in bed.

After the initial shooting, Gilday confronted the homeowner, when gunshots were exchanged between the two. As a result, the homeowner sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and the armed suspect left the scene in a white passenger car, authorities said, noting that the 2016 Toyota Corolla has a license plate of 379-VMJ.

Gilday, considered armed and dangerous, is wanted as of Thursday afternoon on charges of murder, burglary, criminal mischief, assault, and attempted murder.

Kentucky State Police have otherwise said little about the incident and encouraged any individuals with information about the crime or who may have witnessed any individuals in the neighborhood around the time of the shooting contact investigators.

Some of the few details that have been made available were shared by Kentucky State Police in a news release on Tuesday evening:

The initial investigation indicates an armed suspect entered the home just before 4:30 am, at which time shots were fired, killing a female inside. Gunshots were then exchanged between the homeowner and the intruder. As a result, the homeowner sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the University of Kentucky Hospital, where he was treated and released. The armed suspect left the residence after the shooting, and no arrests have been made at this time.

The release also thanked the Richmond Police Department, Madison County Sheriffs Office, and the Madison County Coroner for their assistance in the investigation.

Sgt. Robert Purdy later provided a brief update from the scene of the shooting on Wednesday, where investigators are still hard at work.

The residence that we are searching, the residence where were looking for evidence is substantially large and we dont want to miss anything, Sgt. Purdy told reporters, according to the Lexington Herald-Leader. Weve brought in a lot of resources the agency has. Weve brought in our best detectives, frankly, to comb the house, to look for evidence and take as much as we can from here so we know we can paint a picture of exactly what happened later on.

Ms. Morgan served as a summer intern to Sen. Rand Paul and later worked on the campaign of Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin according to her LinkedIn profile. She briefly served as Deputy Finance Director and Deputy Press Secretary for Gov. Bevin before taking a position as the Assistant Commonwealths Attorney for Kentuckys 54th District.

Ms. Morgan had started a job with a new law form just one week before the fatal shooting (Facebook post above)

At the time of her death, Ms. Morgan had just started a new position at the law firm Reminger Co.

I am thrilled to share that I have joined Remingers Lexington office as an Associate Attorney, wrote Ms. Morgan on Facebook a week before the fatal shooting.I look forward to this new chapter in my legal career and am so grateful for this opportunity! God is so good, yall!

Her involvement in politics started long before her father took office. Mr. Morgan served a single term in the Kentucky House of Representatives from 2017 through 2018, and then unsuccessfully challenged Sen. Mitch McConnell for the Republican nomination in the 2020 election.

He said in a Facebook post at the time: I am running because I want to help President Trump drain the swamp, and to do that, we must tackle the head swamp creature himself: Mitch McConnell.

Mr. Morgan had listed his 14,300 square-foot home, which has nine bedrooms and nine and-a-half bathrooms, for $6.5 million. The property, which sits on 200 acres of land, had been on the market since August.

[Image via Fox 56 screengrab]

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Jordan Morgan, 32, Killed in Home Invasion at Home - Law & Crime

Sen. Rand Paul said he'd want the Supreme Court confirmation hearings for President Joe Biden's forthcoming nominee to be well-mannered, unlike the divisive battles that took place for former President Donald Trump's nominees.

"I think the main thing that a lot of us would like to see is to show that we can be respectful and adults," the Kentucky Republican told McClatchy in aninterview published Thursday.

Particularly, Paul would like to avoid another set of contentious hearings that stoke partisan divisions, as was the case in 2018 during Judge Brett Kavanaugh's Supreme Court nomination. Sexual assault allegations, which Kavanaugh denied, were at the center of his hearings and garnered nationwide attention.

"The Democrats who did that should be ashamed of themselves and unable to look in the mirror, but I promise you, I will never attack a Democrat nominee for the Supreme Court or for anything else in that kind of terms," Paul told McClatchy.

The GOP senator said his priority will be to understand the judicial philosophy of the president's nominee.

"We may disagree on politics and there's a good chance he's going to pick somebody that has a much different understanding of the Constitution than me and I'll voice my differences on that," Paul told McClatchy.

Other Republicans have also signaled a willingness to keep the temperature down for the upcoming confirmation process. CNN reported last week that Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota spoke with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell about preventing a bitter confirmation fight, and the top Republican agreed.

Biden's nominee will replace the retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, a liberal. Whoever Biden places on the court will not alter the court's 6-3 conservative majority, but maintain its current ideological balance. Trump's three Supreme Court appointments, on the other hand, expanded the court's conservative bloc.

Biden has said he will announce his nominee by the end of the month and plans to fulfill his campaign pledge to name the first Black woman to the nation's highest court.

Senate Democrats plan to move quickly to confirm his nominee, which can be done on their own through a simple-majority vote. It's unclear whether any Republicans, such as Paul, will support Biden's nominee and make the vote bipartisan.

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Rand Paul: 'We can be respectful and adults' for Biden's SCOTUS pick - Business Insider