Washington, D.C. -Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement on President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin:
“Our nation has never looked so powerless and so weak on the international stage, with President Trump actually claiming that all he can do is ‘ask the question’-and suggesting that he has none of the formidable tools of the mightiest nation on Earth.
“President Trump could have canceled the meeting. He could have called on Congress to impose additional sanctions. Or, as our nation did more than fifty years ago during the Cuban Missile Crisis, he could have stated forcefully to the entire world that the Russians are lying and that the United States of America is prepared to wait until hell freezes over to hold them accountable for their attack on our election.
“Instead, he legitimized Putin and disrespected the clear findings of our law enforcement and intelligence officials here at home. He took a side, and it was the wrong one. The Kremlin must be absolutely ecstatic. It is difficult to imagine a more favorable outcome for Vladimir Putin.
“We need leadership from the very top to protect our election systems going forward, but very little has been done to shore up our nation’s defenses."
Concerns are increasing about potential Russian attempts to interfere with the upcoming 2018 midterm congressional elections and the lack of specific actions directed by President Trump to agencies responsible for protecting the security of federal elections.
