US LAWMAKERS BLAST TRUMP-PUTIN SUMMIT
American president’s seeming acceptance of Putin’s denial seen as a historical ‘low point’ for the US presidency
WASHINGTON— Donald Trump returned late on Monday from his European tour to face ire in Washington, where US intelligence officials and senior Republicans were denouncing the president as “shameful” and “disgraceful” after he refused to challenge Russian leader Vladimir Putin over interference in American elections.
Republican Sen. John McCain said Trump’s seeming acceptance of Putin’s denial was a historical “low point” for the US presidency and the Helsinki summit between the two leaders a “tragic mistake.”
Disgraceful performance
“Today’s press conference in Helsinki was one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory. The damage inflicted by President Trump’s naivete, egotism, false equivalence and sympathy for autocrats is difficult to cal- culate,” McCain said in a blistering statement.
“No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant.”
Taking direct issue with the president who appointed him, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said US spy agencies had been “clear” and “fact-based” in their assessment that Moscow interfered in the presidential race two years ago, an assessment that Trump refused to endorse in Helsinki.
Coats added that Russia remained behind “ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy.”
12 Russians indicted
Trump stunned US political allies and foes alike with his answer to a question about Russian hacking and interference in the 2016 election, which saw him defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Putin “just said it is not Russia. I will say this: I don’t see any reason why it would be,” Trump said.
That came three days after the US justice department indicted 12 Russians for hacking Democratic Party computers.
Yet Trump appeared to take Putin’s word in dismissing that conclusion.
“I have great confidence in my intelligence people. But I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.”
Astonished Republicans and Democrats uniformly condemned Trump, with harsh criticism coming even from hosts on Fox News, a network normally friendly to the president.
“The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally,” said Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan.
Senior Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Trump’s answer on meddling “will be seen by Russia as a sign of weakness.”
“This is shameful,” said Sen. Jeff Flake, a fellow Republican and staunch critic of the president.
“I never thought I would see the day when our American president would stand on the stage with the Russian president and place blame on the United States for Russian aggression.”
‘On the verge of treason’
The language used by Democrats was much harsher, including accusations of “treason.”
“For the president of the United States to side with President Putin against American law enforcement, American defense officials and American intelligence agencies is thoughtless, dangerous and weak,” said Chuck Schumer, the senior Democrat in the Senate.
Democratic California Rep. Jimmy Gomez charged: “To side with Putin over US intelligence is disgusting; to fail to defend the US is on the verge of treason.”
Congressman Adam Schiff, the senior Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said Trump had given Putin “a green light to interfere in 2018.”
No prior [US] president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant John McCain Republican Senator