Graham faces backlash for suggesting someone should assassinate Putin

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle quickly rebuked the suggestion.

Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham was swiftly rebuked by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for remarks he made suggesting that Russians ought to assassinate Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Is there a Brutus in Russia? Is there a more successful Colonel Stauffenberg in the Russian military? The only way this ends is for somebody in Russia to take this guy out. You would be doing your country - and the world - a great service," Graham tweeted Thursday evening. "Unless you want to live in darkness for the rest of your life, be isolated from the rest of the world in abject poverty, and live in darkness you need to step up to the plate.

Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., tweeted, "I really wish our members of Congress would cool it and regulate their remarks as the administration works to avoid WWIII. As the world pays attention to how the US and its leaders are responding, Lindsey’s remarks and remarks made by some House members aren’t helpful."

But some of Graham's fellow Republicans were equally miffed by his comments. Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz called Graham's suggestion an "exceptionally bad idea".