LAWMAKERS: CANCEL TRUMP-PUTIN TALKS
The indictment of a dozen Russian intelligence officers accused of election interference has sparked calls for President Trump to back out of tomorrow’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin — an appeal that appears to have failed.
“DOJ’s criminal charges provide hard evidence that Russian intel agents attacked America to boost their favorite candidates, undermine others, and influence our elections,” said Bay State U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Twitter. “@realDonaldTrump, cancel your ridiculous Putin summit and get your butt on a plane back to the United States.”
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said yesterday the president
should go ahead with tomorrow’s summit in Helsinki, Finland.
“I am confident that President Trump’s meeting with Vladimir Putin will put America in a better place,” Pompeo said on a flight back from Mexico.
His comments come a day after the Department of Justice announced the indictment of 12 Russian intelligence operatives, accusing them of hacking into Hillary Clinton’s campaign and the Democratic National Committee in an attempt to alter the presidential election.
U.S. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) also questioned the timing.
“President Trump must be willing to confront Putin from a position of strength and demonstrate that there will be a serious price to pay for his ongoing aggression towards the United States and democracies around the world,” McCain said.
“If President Trump is not prepared to hold Putin accountable, the summit in Helsinki should not move forward.”
Trump said he plans to raise election meddling with Putin when they meet at the Finnish presidential palace in Helsinki, but has also said he doesn’t expect Putin to ever accept blame.
“I will absolutely bring that up. I don’t think you’ll have any ‘Gee, I did it. I did it. You got me,’ ” Trump said Friday, referring to Putin. Yesterday, he blamed the Obama administration for allowing the attacks to happen. Russia has denied involvement in the hacks.
In a letter from eight top Democrats sent to Trump yesterday, the lawmakers also urged Trump to cancel the meeting, but said if it goes forward he should come with backup.
“If you insist on meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland, (tomorrow), we write to urge that you include senior members of your team and not meet one-on-one with Mr. Putin, as reportedly planned,” the letter said. “If you are not prepared to make Russia’s attack on our election the top issue you will discuss, then you should cancel the Helinski summit.”