- Title: Top U.S. Republican senators cast doubt on Russia bounty reports
- Date: 30th June 2020
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (JUNE 30, 2020) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) REPUBLICAN SENATORS APPROACHING MICROPHONES FOR PRESS BRIEFING WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SENATE ARMED SERVICES CHAIRMAN JIM INHOFE, A REPUBLICAN FROM OKLAHOMA, SAYING: "This is something that, I know the press likes to think the president knew about this and didn't say anything, it was a cover up. He didn't know about it. And I'm convinced of that. It's something...And let's keep in mind another thing, too. The Russians don't like us. You know, a lot of people don't realize that. They don't like us. They want to kill us. And they're not on our side. And so, to me, that along with the fact that the president didn't know it, I see that I know everything you know." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SENATOR JONI ERNST, A REPUBLICAN FROM IOWA, SAYING: "We should all learn the lesson that you cannot trust Russia. You can't trust Putin. So I was at the White House earlier today with a number of my colleagues, and we received a briefing from intelligence officials, including the DNI (Director of National Intelligence). And after that briefing, you know, the evidence that I have seen and have heard shows no corroboration between what was posted in the New York Times article. So that is very concerning." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SENATOR TODD YOUNG, A REPUBLICAN FROM INDIANA, SAYING: "I've concluded the following: Number one, this administration and this president has drawn on all available intelligence to keep our men and women in uniform safe. That intelligence finds its way out into the front lines and informs our force protection protocols. Number two, those major national newspapers I mentioned, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, reported on unverified and inconclusive intelligence as though it had been conclusively determined that Russia paid bounties on U.S. troops. Number three, every single member, Republican and Democrat alike, of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is aware, should have been aware, of the intelligence that I was briefed on. It's long been available." WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL, A REPUBLICAN FROM KENTUCKY, IN AN EXCHANGE WITH A REPORTER: REPORTER (OFF-CAMERA), SAYING: "Is there any reason that you believe that the president should have been briefed on this intelligence? And do you have any knowledge of whether or not this information was included in his briefing materials?" MCCONNELL, SAYING: "Look, I don't have an observation to make about that. What you've heard our colleagues say is conclusions apparently were not reached in this matter. And I can't imagine whether the president is subjected to every rumor that may be unsubstantiated. I really don't know what happens in these presidential daily briefings." SENATE MINORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER WALKING INTO BRIEFING ROOM WHITE FLASH (SOUNDBITE) (English) SENATE MINORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER, A DEMOCRAT FROM NEW YORK, SAYING: "Where is President Trump? His number one job is to protect American soldiers, to protect the men and women who fight for us overseas. Instead of dithering about what he knew, what he didn't know, he should be talking, he should have a plan. What are we doing? And above all, go after Putin. This president has been played like a fool by President Putin. Every time they negotiate, Putin wins and he loses. He's afraid to talk to Putin." SCHUMER LEAVING BRIEFING
- Embargoed: 14th July 2020 21:44
- Keywords: Afghanistan Ernst Inhofe McConnell Russia Senate nounties
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA001CKKCWNB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Top Republican Senators on Tuesday (June 30) cast doubt and skepticism on reports that Russia paid the Taliban bounties to kill members of the U.S. armed services, after receiving a White House briefing.
Armed Services Committee Chairman James Inhofe told reporters on Capitol Hill he is convinced that U.S. President Donald Trump did not know about the bounties while Senator Joni Ernst said the briefing provided "no corroboration" on the reports. Meanwhile Senator Todd Young said the New York Times and Washington Post, first to report on possible Russian efforts to reward members of the Taliban for attacks on U.S. troops, had relied on "unverified and inconclusive" intelligence.
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