U.S. Representative Lee Zeldin, along with many other local and state lawmakers, rebuked President Donald Trump’s remarks at Monday’s summit and press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a summit in Helsinki and remained firm on his stance that he did not believe Mr. Putin’s claims that Russia had no involvement with the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
“It is important that President Trump met with Putin, America’s adversary, but opportunities like today much be better seized to tell the Russians to stay thousands of miles away from American elections. No exceptions,” Mr. Zeldin said in a statement released through his office.
At the press conference, Mr. Trump appeared to side with Mr. Putin regarding Russian meddling, despite U.S. intelligence that officials say points to Russia’s election interference, and the indictment of 12 Russian spies by the Justice Department on Friday.
At the media event following the summit, Mr. Trump said of Mr. Putin: “He just said it’s not Russia. I will say this: I don’t see any reason why it would be.”
Following criticism from multiple officials and politicians, many in his own party, on Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning, Mr. Trump said Tuesday that he had misspoken and meant to say, “I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia.”
Mr. Zeldin, a Republican, sided with U.S. intelligence and said, “I don’t believe Putin’s denial. Russia is an adversary that should have no leeway to meddle.”
Mr. Zeldin also noted, however, that Mr. Trump’s meeting with Mr. Putin was important as it allowed for “a dialogue between our two countries on nuclear proliferation, Syria and North Korea,” but said, “We must remember who we are talking to.”
Elsie Boskamp on Jul 17, 2018