Cole's opponent Paul Bondar reportedly has ties to a Russian pop star linked to Putin, leaving some wondering if Cole is being targeted over of his support for Ukraine.
On Tuesday in Oklahoma, Republican Rep. Tom Cole, chair of the powerful House Appropriations Committee, will face one of his most significant and costly primary challenges since he went to Congress 22 years ago.
Cole has "never had this much money against him," said Fount Holland, a longtime Oklahoma Republican political consultant who worked for Cole more than a decade ago. Holland noted that the challenge was unusual, especially because of Cole's deep relationships in the district. "There is no one more respected than Tom Cole. There really isn't, and that's why I was intrigued and puzzled by his opponent's decision to run, not only in Oklahoma, but against a man like Tom Cole," Keating added.
Cole has traded barbs with his opponent largely over questions surrounding Bondar's residency. Bondar's current address is in Texas, and he said he has leased a home in Oklahoma. His business he started -- Bondar Insurance Groups -- is based in Illinois with a location in South Florida. Issakovitch is married to pop star Valery Leontiev, who has a well-established and public relationship with Putin. Leontiev is a recipient of a number of Russian awards from Putin, including the Order of Friendship in 2014 and the Order of the Fatherland in 2022, which he received just days before Russia invaded Ukraine. The performer also sang a duet with Putin at a 2006 conference with the leaders of other former Soviet Union republics.
"That's another reason why people think I'm President Trump -- a fake, phony Russia-collusion story," Bondar told ABC News. "He's like any other politician. These people have all sorts of contacts with people, which doesn't always indicate closeness," Thomas said.
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