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A Republican donor in Virginia has filed a lawsuit against the national and Virginia Republican parties, accusing them of fraud and racketeering for raising millions of dollars in donations knowing they wouldnt be able to repeal ObamaCare.

The Virginian-Pilot reports that Bob Heghmann, a retired attorney in Virginia Beach, filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court on Thursday. The suit blasts the Republican Party, saying it has been engaged in a pattern of Racketeering which involves massive fraud perpetrated on Republican voters and contributors as well as some Independents and Democrats.

The lawsuits defendants include the Republican National Committee (RNC) and the Republican Party of Virginia, as well as Virginias two members of the RNC and the chairman of the state Republican Party, John Whitbeck.

As part of his suit, Heghmann argues that the Republican Party does not hold the same protection that members of Congress have against being sued for failing to fulfill campaign promises. He wants the GOP to either threaten to withhold money from members of Congress if they dont repeal ObamaCare, or return contributions to donors.

Heghmanns suit alleges that both the national and state GOP raised millions of dollars from 2009 to 2016 by promising to repeal ObamaCare, but that Republicans knew they would be unable to repeal the law when former President Obama won reelection in 2012.

The suit references comments made by former Speaker of the House John BoehnerJohn BoehnerRepublican donor sues GOP for fraud over ObamaCare repeal failure Boehner on Trump tweets: He gets 'into a pissing match with a skunk' every day Boehner predicts GOP will 'never' repeal, replace ObamaCare MORE (R-Ohio) when he said it was clear ... [that] ObamaCare is the law of the land" following Obama's reelection.

In making this statement Speaker John BoehnerJohn BoehnerRepublican donor sues GOP for fraud over ObamaCare repeal failure Boehner on Trump tweets: He gets 'into a pissing match with a skunk' every day Boehner predicts GOP will 'never' repeal, replace ObamaCare MORE was sending a message to House Republicans and others that Repeal was not going to happen. He was trying to put the issue to rest. ... Nevertheless, the Republican Party continued to use the mails, wires and interstate commerce to solicit donations and votes to secure House and Senate majorities and ultimately the Presidency, the lawsuit states, according to the Pilot.

It also accuses the national and state Republican parties of never intend[ing] to implement the Trump Agenda or fulfill the promises of the Republican Platform as it campaigned for President Trumps election.

Senate Republicans bill to repeal ObamaCare failed last week after three Republicans broke with their party to oppose it. After the vote, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellFive tough decisions for the GOP on healthcare McConnell on healthcare failure: 'Feel better, Hillary Clinton could be president' George Will warns grotesque is becoming normal for GOP MORE (R-Ky.) said, It is time to move on.

"What we tried to accomplish for the American people was the right thing for the country," McConnell said. "I think the American people are going to regret that we couldn't find another way forward."

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Republican donor sues GOP for fraud over ObamaCare repeal ...

MSNBC

The Republican Party's birther problem isn't limited to the past MSNBC In Sen. Jeff Flake's (R-Ariz.) new book, he reflects on many in his party losing sight of their core principles, largely out of cowardice. We forgot to affirm in a voice loud and clear that yes, we are proud Republicans, but that we believe in country ... Republicans Have Reached a Tipping Point with TrumpVanity Fair Republican senators realizing legislative agenda is in their own handsCNN In The States, Republicans Have Never Been So Dominant Or VulnerableNPR The Atlantic -Daily Beast -Breitbart News -NPR all 425 news articles »

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The Republican Party's birther problem isn't limited to the past - MSNBC

WASHINGTON Kayleigh McEnany, who just in the last week moved from CNN to Trump TV, will become the new voice of the Republican Party.

The Republican National Committee said Monday it has namedMcEnany, an outspoken television surrogate for Trump during last year's campaign, as the GOP's new national spokesperson.

Her wealth of experience will be invaluable to the RNC as we continue to support President Trump and build on our majorities in Congress as we headinto 2018" said RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.

The appointment comes less than a week after McEnanyleft her CNN gig and began anchoring a pro-Trump "news of the week" video an appearance that critics likened to governmentpropaganda.

In taking her new assignment,McEnany said,Im eager to talk about Republican ideas and values and have important discussions about issues affecting Americans across this country.

The RNC noted thatMcEnany has degrees fromHarvard Law Schooland Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, and "hasyears of experience developing communications strategies and key messages."

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Trump television stalwart Kayleigh McEnany named Republican Party spokesperson - USA TODAY

Russian-linked bots and trolls have caused a surge in use of the hashtag #ResignPaulRyan on Twitter over the last 48 hours, just as the Republican speaker of the House was returning to his home state of Wisconsin for a month-long respite from Washington, D.C.

The unusual boost in Russian bots targeting a Republican lawmaker was first observed by the German Marshall Funds Alliance for Securing Democracy, created after the 2016 presidential election to defend against, deter, and raise the costs on Russian and other state actors efforts to undermine democracy and democratic institutions.

Related: Trumps Twitter bot army is afake news machine obscuring facts

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A monitoring dashboard established by the Alliance noted the uptick Monday morning.It coincided with surges in the use of other hashtags by Russian bots, including #TrumpTV, #Magnitsky, #Fake and #ConfessYourUnpopularOpinion.

A chart shows the use of several hashtags surging among 600 Twitter bots linked to Russia August 7, 2017. The Alliance For Securing Democracy

It hasnt been a common occurrence for the Alliances dashboard to pick up on Russian bot activity targeting members of the GOP since the site was launched last week by former FBI special agent Clint Watts. But Ryan wasnt the only member of Trumps party to face countless bots demanding his removal. A campaign calling on the president to fire National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster received widespread support from bots and trolls over the last several days using the hashtag #FireMcMaster, eventually getting picked up by some right-wing fake news sites that seem to have the presidents full attention, including Breitbart.

The Russian-sponsored attacks against his aides and colleagues could easily reach the president's timeline as he takes his17-day vacation at his luxury golf course property in Bedminster, New Jersey. In between golfing and enjoying his day outside of Washington, D.C., Saturday, Trump thanked an apparent Twitter bot named @ProTrump45 for a supportive message about his presidency.

That account, which was quickly discovered to be a fake, pro-Trump spam page, has since been suspended by Twitter.

Twitter bots linked to Russia and other foreign adversaries have typically fueled support of Trumps agenda on social media, with nearly half of the presidents followers appearing to be fake or spam accounts, as Newsweek previously reported.

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Russian Bots Are Starting to Attack the Republican Party - Newsweek

The New York Times reports that some Republicans may be contemplating either a presidential run if President Trump isnt on the ballot in 2020 or some type of primary challenge. Those Republicans who have cheered Trump incessantly and who might run as the heirs to Trumpism (Vice President Pence, Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton) in 2020 would carry the burden of Trumps policies and morals. Theyd need to explain their willingness to go along with Trumps xenophobia, incessant lying and attacks on the rule of law.

More interesting than the Trump-wannabes are the Republicans who might run against the Trump legacy if Trump did not run, stage primary challenges, create a third party or run as independents. (Those who have been passive, kept their heads down and refused to take hard votes to defend principles wouldnt be in this category.) The anti-Trump center-right conservatives would need to do more than denounce Trump. What would they offer? Reversion to far-right conservatism of the type embodied in Obamacare repeal proposals and in tax plans designed to give big breaks to the rich has already proved intensely unpopular with voters. We suggest 10 basic planks or principles for the anti-Trump aspirants:

1. Character matters in public life, and those who have demonstrated a propensity to lie, bully, discriminate, eschew personal responsibility, put personal interests over the public good and embrace know-nothingism have no place in elected office.

2. American institutions, including an independent judiciary and free press, must be defended against demagogues. Separation of powers requires Congress to assert its rightful authority as a check against the executive. States cannot be dragooned into executing federal initiatives (e.g., immigration raids) that conflict with policies and priorities in areas reserved to the states (e.g., local policing). Attacks on the legitimacy of the courts and threats not to follow their rulings are inimical to the rule of law.

3. Equality before the law is enshrined in the Constitution. Politicians who pander to sexists, racists and xenophobes and echo their hateful and divisive rhetoric have no place in public life.

4. The laws of the United States should be enforced without resort to mandatory minimum sentences, civil forfeiture, extended detention,incarceration of nonviolent drug criminals (who should be routed to anti-addiction programs) or harassment of journalists.

5. Free trade, reasonable regulation, legal immigration, and a tax code free from special corporate carve-outs and subsidies are essential for economic growth. Refusing to accept globalization or trying to close off America from the world is impossible and counterproductive. Myths and falsehoods about trade, climate change, immigration and other economic realities should be rejected.

6. Moderation not mushy compromise but humility, balancing of interests, aversion to divisive and polarizing rhetoric is a virtue.

7. A secure social safety net must operate alongside a market-based economy with the goal of enabling non-elderly, non-disabled adults to enjoy the rewards of work. Safety-net programs should not be slashed for the sake of saving money; but reform and modernization of existing programs should be undertaken with the sole purpose of helping their recipients enjoy productive lives.

8. Globalization cannot and should not be reversed, but new resources and focus must improve Americans ability to compete in the 21st-century economy through K-12 school reform, apprenticeship programs, alternatives to four-year college, and continuous worker training and retraining.

9. American leadership in the world is required to preserve the international liberal order that has existed for 70 years. In conjunction with allies, the United States should use all levers of soft power and, when required, the judicious use of military power, to defend our interests. Support for human rights, democratic governments and free peoples is part and parcel of our national identity and a necessary component of our foreign policy. We cannot separate our national values from our foreign policy. Our democratic norms and institutions must be reinforced at home if they are to serve as models for others.

10. Government must be transparent and free from conflicts of interest, cronyism and nepotism. Public officials must disclose all financial information and divorce themselves from holdings and activities that create even the appearance of a conflict.

Sadly, the Trumpified GOP does not stand for any, let alone all, of these. That leaves a void in the center of American politics that must be filled by anti-Trump voices, be they in one of the two major parties or in a new party or movement. If the GOP cannot be recaptured from Trump and Trumpism, it should be discarded for in its current state it represents a threat to the republic.

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What a Republican anti-Trump agenda should look like - Washington Post