To the editor:

I’ve seen the idea floated that Russians have infiltrated the Republican Party.

It apparently comes from Trump inviting Russia to invade and “do whatever the hell they want” to U.S. allies who don’t “pay up.” As if U.S. alliances were a gangster protection racket.

Of course, the vigorous attempts by elements of the GOP, including Kansas’ own Roger Marshall, to stop the U.S. from aiding Ukraine in its fight against the unprovoked Russian invasion points to Russian influence. That’s because such a stance directly contradicts classic conservative values.

The idea of Russians “working” the Republican Party also springs from the GOP’s heavy reliance on demonstrated false information used to investigate Hunter Biden — information traced directly back to Russian intelligence.

Trying to foist Russian disinformation on the American people is despicable. So too are the GOP’s other efforts to promote the Russian agenda at the expense of the United States. However, it probably doesn’t rise to a level calling for an official investigation of Russian infiltration of the GOP.

The evidence of Russian influence on the GOP does indeed rise to a level calling for these people to be voted out of office.

Gary Henry,

Lawrence