‘NOTHING SHORT OF TREASON’
DONALD Trump’s compliant appearance alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin has sparked anger and disbelief in the US, where Republicans and commentators questioned his judgment and accused him of being played by the former KGB intelligence officer. Mr Trump’s decision to hold America and Russia equally responsible for the two countries’ poor relationship, and his failure to criticise Mr Putin once during a 46-minute press conference after their summit in Helsinki, infuriated American conservatives. There was also particular anger in Republican circles that Mr Trump appeared to accept Mr Putin’s denials over Russian election meddling, rather than the findings of multiple intelligence agencies including the CIA and FBI, and bodies including the Justice Department, House and Senate intelligence committees. Former intelligence chief John Brennan said the President is “in the pocket” of the Russian leader after Trump hailed successful talks “towards a brighter future.” He described it as nothing “short of treasonous.” The Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats issued an immediate response, saying: “We have been clear in our assessment of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and their ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy, and we will continue to provide unvarnished and objective intelligence.” In Australia, political leaders woke to the news on the fourth anniversary of the downing of MH17, a civilian airliner shot down by Russianbacked militia over Ukraine with the loss of 298 lives including 38 Australians. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull backed the US intelligence agencies, telling 3AW the evidence of Russian election meddling was “very compelling.’’ “President Putin himself said ‘you shouldn’t trust anybody’,” Mr Turnbull said. “I certainly don’t trust President Putin when he says he wasn’t responsible for the shooting down of MH17, which occurred four years ago.’’ Opposition Leader Bill Shorten agreed, saying “I don’t trust him (Putin).’’ “I have never been satisfied that President Putin has ever satisfactorily told the truth to the families of the victims of the Malaysian Airlines flight, which was shot down over eastern Ukraine.” Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop also released a statement calling on Russia to respond to international questions about its role in the downing of MH17. Trump-supporting former Republican Joe Walsh attacked the President on Twitter before concluding: “Trump was a traitor today. I cannot & will not support a traitor. No decent American should.’’ The US House Speaker Paul Ryan, who has clashed with Mr Trump before, said the President “must appreciate Russia is not our ally”.