Marjorie Taylor Greene Pushes Theory Putin Not Behind Nord Stream Sabotage

Republican politician Marjorie Taylor Greene has sparked controversy by saying that she does not believe Russian president Vladimir Putin is behind the sabotage of the two Nord Stream pipelines.

Although Greene did not name which country she suspects of attacking the pipelines—which were created to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany and were damaged last week, with some officials suggesting Russia was to blame—many viewers took her comments to mean that she was saying the U.S. was responsible for the attack.

Newsweek has reached out to Greene, representative for Georgia, for clarification and comment.

The politician wrote a string of tweets outlining her views about the incident and made further claims on the One America News network (OAN) over the weekend.

Dan Ball, who hosts the Real America show, said: "Marjorie, you're kind of saying what I'm saying: I mean, it does not behoove Putin to blow this up.

"Now, you could have an angry worker out there on the oil rigs and pipeline rigs, or whatever, maybe hate Putin and blow it, I don't know. But again: Who benefits if it's shut down? I think we just laid that out."

Greene replied: "Yeah, absolutely, Dan. And it looks clear. But we really can't say for sure because obviously we don't know.

"But obviously, in my opinion, and yours, and many others that are looking at this plainly, it does not appear that Putin would benefit in any way blowing up Nord Stream pipelines. Especially since Russia is the one that profits from delivering natural gas to Germany and the rest of Europe through the pipeline."

Footage of the discussion was tweeted by an organization called PatriotTakes, which says it monitors and exposes "right-wing extremism and other threats to democracy." The group posted the clip online with the caption: "Marjorie Taylor Greene on OAN host implying the United States sabotaged the Nord Stream pipeline."

The clip, which was posted on Sunday, has been viewed more than 255,000 times and has drawn numerous comments.

One Twitter user replied: "So it's 'Blame America First' now?" while others tweeted to accuse her of "treason."

Another user added: "She's really something man. Wow. Anti American propaganda from a siting congresswoman. And that's not hyperbole."

Another Twitter poster, who believes the incident was "likely" to be an accident, wrote: "Imagine assuming . . . & making a conspiracy out of a human or logistical error. It wasn't the US."

But others tweeted that Russia was responsible, with one writing: "Putin blew it up to put pressure on the EU this winter. He hopes to weaken their resolve and lift sanctions against his economy. IMO [in my opinion]."

Greene had already shared her opinions about the sabotage before appearing on the show.

On Wednesday, she had tweeted: "I predicted back in Feb this year that US interest in Ukraine was about natural gas deals. With the apparent attack on Nord Stream 2, everyone should take notice. I have voted NO to every penny & US involvement in the war in Ukraine bc [because] it has nothing to do with Democracy.

"US interest in Ukraine isn't about preserving Democracy, it's about natural gas deals to Germany and Europe. And small arms contracts in the billions. The winners are weapons manufacturers, natural gas suppliers, & invested politicians. The losers are American taxpayers..." Greene tweeted.

"Just like the riot on J6 [January 6 storming of Capitol] did nothing to help Pres Trump bc [because] it destroyed our attempt to object, the apparent attack on Nord Stream 2 does nothing to help Putin's cause. Who would benefit from blowing up a pipeline delivering energy to Europe? People's lives > climate lies."

Before Greene's comments, Fox News host Tucker Carlson said on Tuesday that U.S. President Joe Biden was responsible for damage to the pipelines. He added that Biden's vow in February to "put an end" to the Nord Stream 2 if Russia invaded Ukraine meant he could be responsible for the attacks against the pipelines.

But Ukraine has laid the blame squarely at Russia's feet, with Mykhailo Podolyak, senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, tweeting that the leaks were "a terrorist attack planned by Russia and an act of aggression towards E.U." Podolyak wrote that it was because Europe has hit Russia with wide-ranging sanctions as punishment for invading Ukraine in February.

A CNN report on Thursday said that Russian ships had been seen in the area shortly before explosions were heard and damage to the pipelines was discovered.

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm told the BBC that an investigation was being carried out into the cause of what she called "an act of sabotage," saying "it is highly unlikely that these incidents are coincidence." She added Russia could be to blame.

However, Putin said the pipeline sabotage as "an act of international terrorism," with his ministers suggesting the U.S. could benefit from increased sales of natural gas.

Besides contacting Greene, Newsweek has also sought comment from Russia's foreign ministry and the White House about accusations either country was behind the pipelines' sabotage.