Walden backs findings that Russia intefered in elections

Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., issued a statement Tuesday, in the wake of President Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying he fully supports U.S. intelligence findings that Russia tried to influence the 2016 election. Sens. Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, D-Ore., meanwhile, slammed the president for his comments in Helsinki.

Here’s Walden’s statement, in full:

“Russia’s interference in our elections and repeated attempts to subvert democracy in America must be condemned by our country’s leaders.

“As I have said repeatedly, I fully support the findings of the hardworking Americans in our intelligence community that Russia deliberately attacked our democratic process and continues its hostile efforts against our country and our allies.

“That is why I voted for unprecedented sanctions against the Russian regime, which the President has signed into law, to send the clear signal that these actions are unacceptable.

“We cannot allow any country to undermine our right to free and fair elections, and I will continue to support efforts to combat Russian aggression against the very bedrock of our principles and values as Americans.”

Merkley’s statement, issued Monday, in full:

“President Trump is repeatedly siding with a dictator over his own government and allies. He has refused to hold Putin accountable for Russia’s attack on the United States during the 2016 presidential election, illegal annexation of Crimea, invasion of eastern Ukraine, poisonings on British soil, and other destabilizing actions. He went so far as to blame the United States rather than the raft of Russian violations of international law for deteriorating relations.

“Trump came out of their two-hour-long one-on-one meeting like a man utterly bewitched — embracing Moscow’s worldview and renouncing 70 years of American leadership of the free world.

“The assessment by U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia interfered with the 2016 presidential election is not open to debate. That is why we need a President who will be a watchdog for America, not a lapdog for Putin.

“Instead, President Trump refused to come down on the side of the U.S. government over the denials of Putin, a former KGB spy. Rather than confronting Putin on Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea and invasion of Eastern Ukraine, President Trump unacceptably faulted the United States for ‘foolish. (actions).

“Face-to-face with a dictator in Putin who has imprisoned and killed journalists and ordered chemical weapon attacks against enemies, President Trump laid out a domestic enemies list of his own: the Democratic Party, the free press, and the FBI.

“President Trump’s warm embrace of Putin comes just days after President Trump’s frosty treatment of stalwart NATO allies as well as our special relationship with the United Kingdom. It is as dangerous as it is baffling for President Trump to side with a foreign adversary over our closest allies and our U.S. institutions responsible for safeguarding our security.”

Wyden did not issue a statement but did comment in several tweets Monday on the president’s remarks:

“Trump is elevating the authoritarian head of a fascist government. Every word of praise @realDonaldTrump utters for Putin is an endorsement of Russia’s attack on our democracy.”

“@realDonaldTrump lets Putin lie to his face and doesn’t even contradict him. Cannot remember a more blatant display of weakness by a U.S. president.:”

“Russia attacked our democracy, murders people around the world with impunity, seized territory from a sovereign nation and shot down an airplane full of civilians. But @realDonaldTrump holds “both countries responsible.” This is a national embarrassment.”