Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) is releasing a statement following President Trump’s press conference with Vladimir Putin:
“President Trump’s conduct during today’s press conference with Vladimir Putin was dangerous and reckless. I have supported the Administration’s engagement with North Korea and on other matters of foreign affairs because I believe that America is strongest when our foreign policy is bipartisan. However, what occurred today was a new low and a profound embarrassment for America. Vladimir Putin is an adversary of America who attacked our elections in 2016, illegally annexed Crimea, has backed the murderous Assad regime in Syria and works every day to undermine our country’s security.
President Trump attacked and diminished our law enforcement officers and intelligence agencies on foreign soil in front of a hostile dictator and on matters directly relating to an attack on our nation. In 2017, our intelligence agencies wrote, ‘We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election. Russia’s goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency. We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump. We have high confidence in these judgments.’ The President told the world today that he believes the word of Vladimir Putin over the findings of his country’s own intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Why is the President so deferential to Putin while he trashes our law enforcement who protect our country and our communities every day? Is he afraid of Putin?
Instead of holding Vladimir Putin accountable in Helsinki, President Trump embraced him and in doing so diminished America’s standing in the international community and shamed the office of the presidency.”
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