washington lead republican u.s. congress june 2016 make quip private meet fellow lawmakers russian president vladimir putin could make payments donald trump washington post report wednesday house representatives majority leader kevin mccarthy make assertion newspaper report say conversation record last june primary election season trump seek become republican party presidential nominee accord washington post report house speaker paul ryan fellow republican interrupt mccarthy urge republicans present keep mccarthy remark secret newspaper report quote mccarthy say two people think putin pay rohrabacher trump mccarthy fire back report twitter wednesday say attempt humor go wrong spokesman ryan say remark mean humor take context entire year-old exchange clearly attempt humor one believe majority leader seriously assert donald trump members pay russians ryan spokesman brendan buck say republican representative dana rohrabacher wednesday tell reporters mccarthy quip joke trouble ever try funny really take seriously third party happen say reuters copy tape could confirm authenticity gauge whether mccarthy joke house leader mccarthy suggest trump putin payroll washington post