House Intelligence Chair says Russian propaganda has spread through the GOP: “We need to stand up for democracy.”

House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner (R-OH) on Sunday said Russian propaganda has spread through the Republican party.

CNN’s Jake Tapper asked Turner whether he agreed with Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul (R-TX), who said last week that Russian propaganda had infected “a good chunk of my party's base.”

“Oh, it is absolutely true. We see directly coming from Russia attempts to mask communications that are anti-Ukraine and pro-Russia messages, some of which we even hear being uttered on the House floor,” Turner said on CNN's "State of the Union.” “I mean, there are members of Congress today who still incorrectly say that this conflict between Russia and Ukraine is over NATO, which, of course, it is not. Vladimir Putin, having made it very clear, both publicly and to his own population, that his his view is that this is a conflict of a much broader claim of Russia to Eastern Europe and including claiming all of Ukraine territory as Russia's.”

Turner has been a strong advocate for providing additional U.S. aid to Ukraine amidst pressure from some Republicans to block a foreign aid package.

“Now, to the extent that this propaganda takes hold, it makes it more difficult for us to really see this as an authoritarian versus democracy battle, which is what it is. President Xi of China, Vladimir Putin himself, have identified it as such. We need to stand up for democracy. We need to make certain that we know that authoritarian regimes never stop when they start an aggression. Ukraine needs our help and assistance now. And this is a very critical time for the U.S. Congress to step up and provide that aid,” Turner said.