Rand Paul calls for probe of Democrats over Ukraine letter

Sen. Rand PaulRandal (Rand) Howard PaulRand Paul rips 'leftwing media' for focusing on COVID-19 cases: 'Mortality rates are plummeting' Rand Paul suggests restaurants should hire COVID-19 survivors as servers during pandemic Two Loeffler staffers test positive for COVID-19 MORE (R-Ky.) on Sunday called for an investigation into the Democratic senators who sent a letter in 2018 to the prosecutor general of Ukraine requesting information on investigations into former Trump campaign manager Paul ManafortPaul John ManafortDOJ veteran says he's quitting over Barr's 'slavish obedience' to Trump Bruce Ohr retires from DOJ Don't forget: The Trump campaign gave its most sensitive data to a Russian spy MORE. 

Paul dodged questions from Chuck ToddCharles (Chuck) David ToddNBC moves Texas to 'toss-up' in presidential race Lewandowski: Trump 'wants to see every Republican reelected regardless of ... if they break with the president' Outgoing Va. Republican: Two-party system is failing Americans MORE on NBC's "Meet the Press" on whether President TrumpDonald John TrumpGiuliani goes off on Fox Business host after she compares him to Christopher Steele Trump looks to shore up support in Nebraska NYT: Trump had 7 million in debt mostly tied to Chicago project forgiven MORE's personal attorney Rudy GiulianiRudy GiulianiGiuliani goes off on Fox Business host after she compares him to Christopher Steele Teenager who filmed George Floyd's death to be honored 11 arrested after clashes at 'Jews for Trump' rally in New York MORE's interactions with foreign governments to get information on former Vice President Joe BidenJoe BidenGiuliani goes off on Fox Business host after she compares him to Christopher Steele Trump looks to shore up support in Nebraska Jeff Daniels narrates new Biden campaign ad for Michigan MORE bothered him. 

"If anything's consistent here, both parties have tried to involve themselves in Ukraine," Paul said.

"If you're going to condemn Trump, you need to condemn the Democratic senators," he added. "It shouldn't just be one-sided."

The 2018 letter Paul referred to was sent by three Democratic senators — Sens. Robert MenendezRobert (Bob) MenendezTrump appointee sparks bipartisan furor for politicizing media agency Senate Democrats hold talkathon to protest Barrett's Supreme Court nomination Watchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump MORE (N.J.), Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Patrick LeahyPatrick Joseph LeahySchumer says he had 'serious talk' with Feinstein, declines to comment on Judiciary role Durbin says he will run for No. 2 spot if Dems win Senate majority Democrats seem unlikely to move against Feinstein MORE (Vt.) — to Ukraine's prosecutor general, asking for the country's assistance in the Mueller investigation. The letter was sent after a New York Times report found the investigations into Manafort in Ukraine had stalled. 

Paul asserts the Democratic senators threatened to withhold aid from Ukraine in the letter if the country did not cooperate in the Mueller investigation.

The Kentucky senator said the Democratic senators' sending of the letter needs to be examined.

"That’s a threat and that’s the same kind of stuff they’re accusing Trump of," he said.

Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOn The Money: Trump says stimulus deal will happen after election | Holiday spending estimates lowest in four years | Domestic workers saw jobs, hours plummet due to COVID Hoyer lays out ambitious Democratic agenda for 2021, with health care at top CNN won't run pro-Trump ad warning Biden will raise taxes on middle class MORE (D-Calif.) launched an impeachment inquiry against Trump after a whistleblower report surfaced concerns about a July call between Trump and the Ukrainian president. In the call, Trump asked President Volodymyr Zelensky to "look into" former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter days after withholding military aid from the country.

During Biden's vice presidency, he pushed for the dismissal of a Ukrainian prosecutor, who was looking into a Ukrainian gas company, of which Hunter Biden sat on the board.