Both Republican and Democratic U.S. senators from Idaho and Washington had strong words for President Trump’s meeting in Helsinki Monday with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Washington 5th District Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers, the fourth-ranking Republican in the House, said Trump “missed the opportunity” to deliver a stronger message to his Russian counterpart. She said she does “not believe that Russia is a friend of the United States,” adding that she puts more trust in intelligence agencies over the Russian leader.
Idaho Republican Senator Jim Risch, who serves on both the Senate Intelligence and Foreign Relations committees, said nothing he heard changed his views. In a statement, Risch said “Russia attempted to interfere in the 2016 U.S. election and is no friend of the United States.” He added that “the U.S. must stand from a position of strength in its relationship with Russia and in defense of allies and shared values.”
Fellow Idaho Senator Mike Crapo, while not mentioning President Trump, said he remains “deeply concerned” by Russian behavior in recent years, and introduced the sanctions bill that passed to penalize the country for actions in Crimea and Ukraine, interference in elections and aggression in Syria.
Washington Democrat Senator Patty Murray, a regular critic of Trump, was scathing in her criticism, saying -quote – “It was truly horrifying and deeply alarming to see the President of the United States stand with the President of Russia in undercutting the work of intelligence agencies and law enforcement and blaming America for the attacks on elections and democracy.
On Twitter, Washington Democrat Senator Maria Cantwell said Putin again denied Russian interference and she criticized Trump for refusing to call him out on it. (Spokesman-Review)
