NY Times Opinion Tom Friedman: "Everything that happened in Helsinki today only reinforces that [...] we are in trouble and we have some big decisions to make [It] was an historic moment in the entire history of the United States. There is overwhelming evidence that our president, for the first time in our history, is deliberately or through gross negligence or because of his own twisted personality, engaged in treasonous behavior — behavior that violates his oath of office to 'preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.' Trump vacated that oath today, and Republicans can no longer run and hide from that fact. Every single Republican lawmaker will be — and should be — asked on the election trail: Are you with Trump and Putin or are you with the C.I.A., F.B.I. and N.S.A.?"
Increasingly it is looking like Putin is Trump's 'handler' - as it is called in the world of espionage. All evidence points to Trump being co-opted by the Russians from as far back as 1987. Trump's failure to condemn the Russian attacks is a betrayal of his oath of office.
From Trump's own party -
"This is bizarre and flat-out wrong…. When the President plays these moral equivalence games, he gives Putin a propaganda win he desperately needs.”
- Republican Sen. Ben Sasse
"I never thought I would see the day when our American President would stand on the stage with the Russian President and place blame on the United States for Russian aggression. This is shameful."
- Republican Sen. Jeff Flake
"I am deeply troubled by President Trump's defense of Putin against the intelligence agencies of the U.S. & his suggestion of moral equivalence between the U.S. and Russia.”
- Republican Rep. Liz Cheney (House Armed Services Committee)
"I was very disappointed and saddened with the equivalency that he gave between [the US intelligence agencies] and what Putin was saying… [The President] made us look like a pushover”
- Republican Sen. Bob Corker
"There is no question that Russia interfered in our election and continues attempts to undermine democracy here and around the world… That is not just the finding of the American intelligence community but also the House Committee on Intelligence.”
- Republican Rep. Paul Ryan (House Speaker)
“No prior president has ever abased himself more abjectly before a tyrant.”
- Republican Sen. John McCain
"I've seen the Russian intelligence manipulate many people in my career, and I never would have thought the US President would be one of them.”
- Republican Rep. Will Hurd (former undercover CIA officer)
"Russia interfered in the 2016 election. Our nation's top intelligence agencies all agree on that point.”
- Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch
"I strongly disagree w/ statement that Russia did not meddle in 2016 election. With all I have seen on House Intel Comm & additional indictments of 12 Russian officers last week, it is clear Russia's intentions. President Trump missed opportunity to hold Putin publicly accountable.”
- Republican Rep. Frank LoBiondo (Chair, House CIA subcommittee)
"I've said a number of times and I say it again, the Russians are not our friends and I entirely believe the assessment of our intelligence community.”
- Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell (Majority Leader)
“Donald Trump’s news conference performance in Helsinki rises to & exceeds the threshold of ‘high crimes and misdemeanors.’ It was nothing short of treasonous.”
- Former C.I.A. Director John O. Brennan
