The Number of Republicans Supporting Cutting Party Funding to Trump Increases

The number of Republicans who have asked the National Committee of the Party to stop discretionary funding for Donald Trump's presidential campaign has exceeded 120. At the same time, party representatives in Congress are demanding explanations from the head of Trump's campaign regarding allegations of receiving money from the campaign of Ukraine's former president. Reports about a letter with dozens of signatures from Republican politicians were published on August 21; the signatories of this letter believe that Trump will ultimately concede the field to his rival, Hillary Clinton, in the presidential election. According to this group of Republicans, the National Committee of the Party should stop discretionary funding for the presidential campaign and focus its resources on the congressional elections to maintain the party's majority in the legislature. Among those who signed this letter are a group of Republicans who had previously announced they would not support Trump, including Scott Rigell and Reid Ribble, both from the House of Representatives. The request was organized by Andrew Weinstein, deputy spokesman for Newt Gingrich, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives. Publications like Huffington Post and television networks including CBS report that some Republicans who have been in party administrations since Ronald Reagan and advisors to several party representatives in presidential elections are among the supporters of this request. This letter is set to be sent to the National Committee of the Party on August 26 (today, Wednesday, Iran time). The letter also refers to some of Donald Trump's statements and electoral promises, such as reinstating torture, antagonizing Muslims, women, the disabled, or minorities, banning entry for certain religious groups, or killing the families of suspects of terrorist activities. From the perspective of supporters of this request, these promises have launched a campaign of "anger and discrimination." Mr. Trump, the Republican nominee, has recently criticized the media and journalists several times, claiming he is not receiving adequate coverage. He states that his administration supports "the rights of women, sexual groups, and various believers." At the same time, he emphasized that "just as we won the war against communism," we must "go after radical Islam." The New York Times recently reported that based on documents found in Ukraine, Paul Manafort, Trump's campaign chairman, was an advisor to Viktor Yanukovych, the former president of Ukraine, and received more than $12 million. Yanukovych, the leader of the "Party of Regions," served two terms as Prime Minister of Ukraine and is considered a supporter of Moscow. During the protests in 2014, his parliament removed him from the presidency; he then went to Russia. Sean Duffy, a Republican representative in the House, said on August 26 to CNN, "I want to know what money he received from the pro-Russian organization in Ukraine." Mr. Duffy compared these allegations to accusations against the Clinton Foundation regarding receiving money from foreign governments. This U.S. congressman stated that both allegations should be investigated. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican opposing Trump, is another representative who has called for an investigation into Paul Manafort. On the other hand, publications close to conservatives, including the New York Post, have accused the Clinton Foundation of receiving money from foreign billionaires. Manafort has denied receiving money while he was an advisor to Yanukovych's campaign. Donald Trump also stated on his Facebook page that his opponent "receives millions of dollars in her foundation from countries where being gay is punishable by death or execution." Voting for the 45th president of the United States will take place on November 8, and the future president will begin his work in January 2017.