Trump and Putin begin their Helsinki meeting
WASHINGTON – Two Mid-Hudson congressmen have found fault with President
Trump’s performance at Monday’s Helsinki news conference with
Russian President Putin, in which he agreed with Putin who said Russia
did not interfere with the US presiential election.
John Faso, a Republican like Trump, said he does not agree with “the approach taken by President Trump” at the news conference. “Putin is no friend to the United States. There is no credibility to Putin’s denials especially in light of the public evidence and our own U.S. intelligence reports,” Faso said.
“We know the Russians meddled in our elections and we must continue our sanctions and diplomatic pressure against Putin’s actions,” Faso said.
Democrat Sean Patrick Maloney said, “For the first time in history, the American President has sided with a hostile foreign dictator over the FBI and his own country. I’ve never seen anything like this. It’s not normal and it makes America look weak.”
Maloney’s statement said, “Over 100 charges have been brought against Putin allies and even Russian Government agents. They did it – there’s no question. Russian has to be held accountable and our president needs to stand up for the country he’s supposed to be leading.”
Maloney said Special Counsel Robert Mueller “will soon tell us the key piece – whether American citizens conspired with the now-indicted Russians.”
US Senator Charles Schumer, a Democrat, was also miffed by Trump’s comments. “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. The president is putting himself over our country.”
The senator further commented on Twitter, “A single, ominous question now hangs over the White House: what could possibly cause @realDonaldTrump to put the interests of Russian over those of the United States.”
