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A growing number of Republican lawmakers have severely criticized the performance of US President Donald Trump at a press conference Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with House Speaker Paul Ryan saying that the Russia was to be held responsible for its interference in the 2016 elections.
Trump's most outspoken critics were those who blamed the president for doing so in the past. A handful of Republicans defended the president's remarks, made after the two leaders met in Helsinki.
Arizona Senator John McCain said that Trump's comments represented "one of the most shameful performances of an American president in memory".
"The damage caused by the naïveté, egotism, false equivalence and sympathy of President Trump towards autocrats are difficult to calculate," McCain said in a statement. "But it is clear that the summit of Helsinki was a tragic mistake."
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Arizona Senator Jeff Flake, who does not show up for reelection, said on Twitter: "I would never have thought that I would see the light of day where our American president would stage with the Russian president and blame the United States for Russian aggression, which is shameful. "
I never thought I would see the day when our American president would come on the scene with the Russian president and blame the United States for the Russian aggression.
– Jeff Flake (@JeffFlake) July 16, 2018
Comments came after the press conference at which Trump called the investigation of Special Adviser Robert Mueller on the issue. Russian election ingesting a "disaster". If Russia interfered in the 2016 election that he won and suggested that he also trusted his national intelligence director and Putin.
Trump also said that he saw no reason for Russia to interfere in the elections. as a way to improve relations between the two countries.
The president has put many Republicans in a difficult position ahead of the November congressional elections which will determine which party controls both the House and the Senate. Lawmakers have had to decide whether, or to what extent, to criticize a popular president from GOP voters on an issue that has not played a large role in the campaigns.
Ryan, from Wisconsin, who leaves Congress in January, said "There is no doubt" that Russia mingled with the 2016 elections.
"The President must understand that Russia is not going to Is not our ally, "Ryan said in a statement. "The United States must focus on Russia's responsibility and put an end to its vile attacks on democracy."
PABLO MARTINEZ MONSIVAIS / AP
Richard Burr, Chairman of the Senate Council of North Carolina, said that any Putin's statement contradicts the findings of his interference in the elections. The Burr Committee conducted an investigation and supported the conclusion of US intelligence agencies that Putin had ordered a campaign to interfere in the 2016 elections.
"We must make it clear that the United States will not tolerate not hostile Russian activities against us or our allies, "Burr said.
Tennessee Senator Lamar Alexander said in a statement that he is "even more important than the bipartisan Senate"
The Texas representative, Will Hurd, who previously worked as an undercover agent for the Central Intelligence Agency, said on Twitter that he had seen the Russian secret services manipulate many people.
"I would never have thought that the US president would become the only one." one of those played by the old hands of the KGB, "he wrote
Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse lambasted both sides" The United States wants good relations with the Russian people, but Vladimir Putin and his thugs are responsible for the Soviet-style aggression, "Sasse said in a statement.
South Carolina's representative, Trey Gowdy, who is waging a battle against the Department of Justice for l '. access to documents on the investigation ru sse, said that Moscow has tried to undermine the United States. Gowdy said in a statement that he is confident that senior officials of the Trump administration "will be able to communicate to the president that it is possible to conclude that Russia has interfered with our election in 2016 without delegitimizing its electoral success, "he added. "
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham called the press conference" opportunity missed by President Trump to hold Russia accountable for the 2016 interference and to issue a stern warning regarding future elections. "
hold Russia accountable for the 2016 interference and give a strong warning about future elections
This response by President Trump will be seen by Russia as a sign of weakness and will create many more problems than it solves. (1/3)
– Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) July 16, 2018
Utah Senator, Orrin Hatch, said that Russia had interfered in the 2016 elections and that the United States needed to Defend. "From the President, we must do everything in our power to protect our democracy by guaranteeing future elections against foreign influence and interference, regardless of what Vladimir Putin or any other agent says.Russian.
California representative Darrell Issa, who does not stand for reelection, questioned the US's 12-member military intelligence officers' time for computer attacks to undermine The Democratic Party [19659002] The indictment, which stems from Mueller's investigation, adds to the long-standing conclusion of US intelligence agencies that Russia has interfered with the 2016 presidential race.
told CNN. "To doubt the validity of various things is right."
But he went on to criticize Putin: "Putin is a nasty man who has killed many people in his own country." Dana Rohrabacher, who is one of the most pro-Russian MPs in the House, has told Bloomberg Television that the United States interfered in the Russian elections "at a much higher rate" than the US Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, leader of the Senate majority, said: "The Russians are not our friends and I totally agree with the assessment of our intelligence community, "according to a tweet, a reporter from Washington Post .
D & # 39; Other Republicans, including representatives David Brat of Virginia and Mark Meadows of North Carolina, said they were not listening to the media coverage of the press conference. of the Senate, Chuc Schumer, from New York, joined other supporters of his party claiming that Trump was supporting an American opponent [1965-19004] "What could lead President Trump to put Russia's interests ahead of those of the United States?" "Millions of dollars." Americans will continue to wonder if the only possible explanation for this dangerous behavior is the possibility that President Putin is holding damaging information about President Trump. "
John Brennan, who was director of the CIA under President Barack Obama has helped to produce intelligence reports that first found Russia mingled with elections, said Trump "is entirely in Putin's pocket and that his performance has exceeded the threshold of indictment for" crimes and misdemeanors " .
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