Cochrane more than likely knows nothing of this alleged 'vote buying.' Of course, he also does not know what day it is, his dog's name, what state he represents, and what time he should take his pills.
This does not affect his performance as a Senator because he is still capable of signing things put before him by his staff, who in turn are told exactly what to do by Mitch McConnell's staff.
You jest, but perhaps Thad is as much of a puppet as Barack.
And political puppets are never a good thing. A puppet can’t choose God. It is tied by its strings.