President Donald Trump sparked bipartisan criticism from members of Congress on Monday for his comments at a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
At a joint press conference in Helsinki, Trump defended Putin against claims of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, and said the U.S. was equally to blame as Russia for poor relations between the two countries.
A number of prominent Republican lawmakers in Washington denounced Trump’s comments. U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona said the summit was “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory.”
U.S. Sen. Johnny Isakson, an East Cobb resident who is Georgia’s senior senator, sits on the Senate Intelligence Committee and issued the following statement late Monday afternoon:
I support the assessment of the intel community & the bipartisan Senate Intel Committee findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 election – just as it has done for decades. Russia does not deserve our trust or special treatment, and my view remains unchanged after today's mtg.
— Johnny Isakson (@SenatorIsakson) July 16, 2018
U.S. Rep. Karen Handel, a Roswell Republican who represents East Cobb in Georgia’s Sixth Congressional District, is a member of the House Intelligence Committee. She released this statement on late Monday afternoon:
https://twitter.com/karenhandel/status/1018955241218330627
Georgia’s other senator, Republican David Perdue, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has not commented publicly on the matter.
Trump finished a week-long trip to Europe that included a visit to NATO headquarters in Brussels as well as Britain.
Even some long-standing supporters of Trump were concerned about the president’s comments. Former House Speaker and 6th District Congressman Newt Gingrich said Trump “must clarify his statements in Helsinki on our intelligence system and Putin. It is the most serious mistake of his presidency and must be corrected—immediately.”
Get Our Free E-Mail Newsletter!
Every Sunday we round up the week’s top headlines and preview the upcoming week in the East Cobb News Digest. Click here to sign up, and you’re good to go!
