GOP senator tells CNN’s Blitzer: It’s ‘your job’ to speak up on Trump

Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho) on Tuesday defended his handling of President Trump, saying it is the job of news media to hold the president accountable for being truthful in what he says.

“When he lies about something and you know it’s a lie, shouldn’t you speak up?” CNN’s Wolf Blitzer asked.

“That’s your job,” the GOP senator responded.

When the President lies, and you know it’s a lie, shouldn’t you speak out?

Senator Risch tells @wolfblitzer: That’s your job pic.twitter.com/qM4dkZWySy

— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) October 24, 2017

Blitzer pressed Risch on the issue, pointing out the co-equal authority of Congress in the government to the executive branch.

{mosads}

“Wolf, if I went around criticizing a statement that was made by the president, or anyone of my fellow senators, or anyone of the congressmen up here, or people in Idaho who hold public office, and I stood up everytime they talked and said ‘I don’t like this, I don’t like that,’ I’d be busy all day long,” Risch said.

The CNN host then brought up Sen. Jeff Flake’s speech from earlier Tuesday, where the Arizona Republican announced his retirement from the Senate and suggested that those who did not speak out against the president for his divisive rhetoric are “complicit.” 

“That’s his view,” Risch said on CNN. “That is not my view.” 

Risch again said it wasn’t up to him to “jump up and start criticizing” every time another politician says something he disagrees with, defending his handling of Trump.

Blitzer noted that Trump regularly attacks CNN and other media outlets as “fake news.”

“I appreciate that, and I certainly appreciate his point of view on that,” Risch said. 

“He also has the right to go after the press and hold you guys’ feet to the fire when you’re doing the wrong thing,” he added.

Flake and Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), who has also announced he will not run again for the Senate, both launched scathing attacks Tuesday on Trump as the president headed to Capitol Hill for a lunch with GOP senators amid their push for tax reform.

The GOP senators have both called out Trump for his rhetoric and have blasted his behavior in office.