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WASHINGTON–Sen. Mike Braun is blaming the Biden administration for gas prices already heading up before the Russia-Ukraine situation. He said in an interview on Fox Business Network, that the administration purposefully depressed the market a year ago.

“When the Biden administration took over and they said we’re gonna put the fossil fuel industry out of business, that started changing probably the mid and long-term plans of folks in the business. They weren’t gonna push ahead on leases they’ve already got,” said the Republican from Indiana.

Tuesday, Pres. Biden blamed the oil industry for the lack of domestic production, saying producers were not making good on leases on private land.

“They pulled the plug on the Keystone XL pipeline and they also quit the permits on federal land. So, it was two or three things that sent the signal to the marketplace that he’s not the friend of oil and gas,” said Braun.

Braun called the current spike in gas prices temporary, saying Russian oil does not have as much effect on the market as is perceived.

“The market is putting a panic premium in there because of disruption,” he said.

When asked if he believed the sanctions on Russia and the ban on Russian oil imports would have much of an effect, Braun didn’t seem to think so.

“Mostly it’s too little too late,” he said. “What we don’t get from them, they’ll sell elsewhere.”

Braun called the situation with gas prices a self-inflicted wound, and said he believes gas prices could be high enough for anyone taking blame to lose an election.