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The California Report

Report: GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy Suggested Putin Was Paying Trump

The Associated Press
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U.S. House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) (R) chats with Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX) (L) prior to a news briefing at the headquarters of Republican National Committee May 17, 2017, in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

A published report says House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy said last year that he thought Russian President Vladimir Putin was paying Donald Trump. A spokesman for the California Republican is calling the remarks "a failed attempt at humor."

The Washington Post says it listened to a recording of a conversation among House leaders last June 16. That was a month before Trump received his party's presidential nomination.

The Post reports that after some lawmakers laughed, House Speaker Paul Ryan told the leaders to keep the conversation private.

McCarthy was a Trump backer last year. Trump stated his admiration for Putin during the presidential campaign.

McCarthy spokesman Matt Sparks says McCarthy's remark was a failed joke. He says it is "absurd and false" to think McCarthy would make the assertion.

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