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Virginia Politicians React to Trump-Putin Summit Debacle

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I’ll add statements on today’s disastrous Trump-Putin summit as I see them. It also will be interesting to see if Republicans like Rep. Barbara Comstock ever say anything about this, or instead maintain their cowardly silence in the face of Trump’s disgraceful behavior.

Sen. Tim Kaine: “This is a sad, shameful moment for our great nation. We will reclaim our values and reassert our global leadership. We’ll turn the page on this dark chapter. But it won’t happen on its own. We all must stand up — to side with US law enforcement and protect all Americans.”

STATEMENT OF U.S. SEN. MARK R. WARNER 

~ On the Trump-Putin Summit ~

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement today following President Trump’s comments during a joint press conference at the Trump-Putin summit:

“For the President of the United States to stand next to Vladimir Putin — who personally ordered one of the largest state-sponsored cyber-attacks in our history — and side with Putin over America’s military and intelligence leaders is a breach of his duty to defend our country against its adversaries.

“If the President cannot defend the United States and its interests in public, how can we trust him to stand up for our country in private?”

Rep. Donald McEachin

“I am enraged that days after Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicted 12 Russians for hacking our country in 2016, Donald Trump stood next to Vladimir Putin on a global stage and ignored the U.S. intelligence conclusion that Russia meddled in our elections. Today’s actions were a form of appeasement, and this president’s weakness in the face of dire threats – like that of Neville Chamberlain – threatens the future of our democracy. President Trump’s actions have put our country at risk.”

“This ‘summit’ was a disaster.”

State Senator Wexton Calls on Congresswoman Comstock to End Her Silence on Trump, Mueller Investigation, and Russia’s Attacks on American Democracy

STERLING, VA — Today, following President Trump’s disgraceful Helsinki summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and the most recent indictments from the Justice Department, State Senator Jennifer Wexton issued the following statement calling on Congresswoman Barbara Comstock to denounce Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. elections and commit to protecting the Robert Mueller special investigation.

“President Trump’s continuing denial of Russia’s attacks on our nation is beneath the dignity of his office. His inability to stand up to Putin, combined with his statement that Putin should be trusted, shows that he is unwilling to protect America. If the President won’t protect American democracy, Congress must.

Congresswoman Comstock’s refusal to stand up to this President and protect the Mueller investigation is shameful. Her silence speaks volumes. She needs to commit now to protecting the Mueller investigation until it has run its course.”

Rep. Don Beyer Statement on Trump-Putin Summit

July 16, 2018 (Washington, D.C.) – Rep. Don Beyer today issued the following statement on the summit between presidents Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin:

“Donald Trump’s performance at his summit with Putin today was the most astonishing display of weakness and submission that I have ever seen from an American President. Trump’s refusal to side with U.S. intelligence and law enforcement instead of a man who ordered attacks on our elections and is an enemy of human rights around the globe should have been shocking. Yet, tragically, this was more of the same self-serving fecklessness that we’ve seen time and again from President Trump.

The President’s public debasement of our country to Russia followed a series insults to U.S. allies, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Nato, and the E.U. This has been one of the most disastrous presidential trips abroad in history, and our country will suffer from the damage Trump has just done to America’s reputation for years to come.”

Rep. Gerry Connolly: “Breaking news: Trump has taken on a new job: spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry.” “Dateline Helsinki: looking for collusion? We all just witnessed it.”

Elaine Luria (VA-02): “I fully agree with Senator John McCain‘s statement regarding President Trump’s recent actions: ‘No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant. Not only did President Trump fail to speak the truth about an adversary; but speaking for America to the world, our president failed to defend all that makes us who we are—a republic of free people dedicated to the cause of liberty at home and abroad.’ We cannot deny the facts and we must stand up to our enemies, especially when they are in the room.”

Abigail Spanberger Comments on President Trump’s Remarks at the Helsinki Meeting

GLEN ALLEN, VA — Abigail Spanberger, Democratic nominee for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District, released the following statement today in response to President Trump’s meeting and press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki:
 
“Today in Helsinki, President Trump declared that he doesn’t ‘see any reason why’ Russia would have meddled in the U.S. presidential election.
“Fresh from a disastrous trip where he attacked, bullied and further strained relationships with our closest NATO allies, President Trump instead took aim at our intelligence agencies, relitigated the 2016 election, and heaped praise on the Russian authoritarian whose country interfered with our elections and actively works to undermine our democracy.
“As a former CIA case officer, it is disturbing to see a sitting U.S. President further erode public trust in our institutions by placing his faith in an ex-KGB thug instead of our hardworking intelligence officers.
“At this critical time in our history, we should be able to rely on our Commander-in-Chief to stand up for the basic tenets of our democracy, defend the principles of our Constitution, and stand tall in the face of any authoritarian who would seek to do us harm, especially one who has already endeavored to do so.
“Unfortunately, the President failed that basic test of moral leadership today. Instead of an impassioned advocate for American values, we saw someone more interested in courting favor with a despot than standing up to one. We witnessed an American President more eager to condemn our allies than speak harshly of an aggressor. In short, we watched as the President of the United States ceded authority to a foreign adversary and tyrant.
“I am calling on all congressional leaders to stand up and issue a stalwart rebuke of the President’s actions today. We cannot undo the damage done unless we are willing to come together, not as Republicans and Democrats, but as Americans, and with one voice demand competent, responsible representation on the world stage.”

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And now the Trump/Putin-enabling Republicans…

Rep. Scott Taylor (R-VA02): “While I believe relationships matter and there are points of common ground for collaboration that should be pursued, the interests of the United States and the Russian Federation diverge sharply on many fronts. It is disappointing the President did not seize the opportunity to let Putin and the world know that the United States will not tolerate meddling in our elections or Russia’s darkest geopolitical desires to go unchecked.”

Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA10): “Whether it is grave issues like the annexation of Crimea, supporting Assad in Syria, supplying energy to North Korea, the deadly poisoning of British citizens, the constant cyber-attacks, or interfering with U.S. elections — we all need to understand what and who we are dealing with in Russia — an evil empire that is run by an ex-KGB agent. As my friend, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said today, ‘We have been clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and their ongoing, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy…’ I trust our National Security agencies and our career intelligence professionals will continue to address these threats. Just last week, we saw the Mueller Investigation indict a number of Russian agents in the ongoing criminal probe. However, more information from the various investigations should be disclosed to the public so that we can better protect the upcoming 2018 elections and our national security.”

And the disgraceful Morgan Griffith:

“I think that discussion between leaders of two of the world’s great powers should be welcomed in an effort to peacefully resolve the differences that have accumulated over the years. International diplomacy is not a simple game of checkers. It is more like three-dimensional chess, especially with countries that are not our allies. President Trump has proven to be better at international diplomacy than the media and his critics are willing to acknowledge. He has shown that he deserves more than one press conference in order for us to get a clear picture of his strategy. Think North Korea.”

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