Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) drew the audience’s laughter during a debate when he said he had been “set up” by the FBI.
Johnson is known for spreading misinformation and conspiracy theories. He made the allegation in response to an attack by his Democrat opponent, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, that the Kremlin was trying to turn him into a “Russian asset.”
In 2020, the FBI provided a briefing to Johnson about how influential politicians had been targeted to spread falsehoods intended to damage Joe Biden in his campaign for the White House.
“In response to the wild charge of the Lt. Gov. Barnes, the FBI set me up,” Johnson said, being interrupted by audience members laughing.
The senator claimed the FBI report was a “corrupt briefing.”
He confirmed he was warned by the agency in August 2020 in an interview.
Johnson, a fierce Donald Trump‘s ally, is the incumbent senator in Wisconsin and faces Barnes, the Democratic challenger in the November election.
