By Yvonne Wingett Sanchez | Arizona Republic
Justin Olson, a Republican candidate for Arizona’s U.S. Senate seat, appeared this week on a Russia-funded video show where he discussed the trucker protest in Canada that had shut down a busy U.S.-Canada border crossing after protests against COVID-19 restrictions.
Olson, an Arizona Corporation Commissioner and former state lawmaker from Mesa, appeared on RT America, a TV network whose operations are funded by the Russian government and broadcasts from its studios in Washington, D.C. Olson appeared Feb. 15 via video, according to an RT America show posted on its YouTube channel.
Asked Thursday if he had any concerns about appearing on Russia-funded programming, Olson told The Arizona Republic: “It’s something that I definitely take into consideration.”
“I went on the program to voice my support for the Canadian truckers who are protesting vaccine mandates,” Olson said. “I’m a vocal supporter of freedom and I’ll voice that support whenever I think it can make a difference.”
Olson noted the late American television host Larry King had hosted a show, “PoliticKING,” on RT America.
The RT America appearance came as Olson is trying to gain ground in a crowded GOP Senate primary contest to take on Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz. in the November mid-term elections and as tensions between Washington and Moscow remained high over the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden has told reporters the threat of a Russian invasion into Ukraine is “very high” and could happen in the upcoming days.
