Trump: Why didn’t Obama ‘do something about Russian meddling?’
President Trump questioned Monday why former President Obama didn’t take action on Russian interference in the 2016 election, despite Obama having implemented sanctions against the country over its meddling.
Obama was President up to, and beyond, the 2016 Election. So why didn’t he do something about Russian meddling?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 19, 2018
The tweet comes just days after special counsel Robert Mueller indicted more than a dozen Russians and three Russian groups for election interference.
Trump has tweeted about Moscow’s hacking and the U.S. investigations into it multiple times across the Presidents Day weekend, which he is spending at his Mar-a-Lago resort in South Florida.
I never said Russia did not meddle in the election, I said “it may be Russia, or China or another country or group, or it may be a 400 pound genius sitting in bed and playing with his computer.” The Russian “hoax” was that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia – it never did!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 18, 2018
If it was the GOAL of Russia to create discord, disruption and chaos within the U.S. then, with all of the Committee Hearings, Investigations and Party hatred, they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. They are laughing their asses off in Moscow. Get smart America!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 18, 2018
Obama issued sanctions against Russia for the meddling after U.S. intelligence officials said they had found evidence that the country had hacked U.S. groups and leaked emails in an effort to influence the 2016 vote.
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He also expelled 35 Russian diplomats from the U.S. and ordered two Russian compounds to be closed.
Former Vice President Joe Biden said earlier this year that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) refused to join a bipartisan statement warning Russia against the interference during the election.
Some Democrats, including Rep. Adam Schiff (Calif.), have acknowledged that the Obama administration could have done more to prevent the election meddling.
Now that Adam Schiff is starting to blame President Obama for Russian meddling in the election, he is probably doing so as yet another excuse that the Democrats, lead by their fearless leader, Crooked Hillary Clinton, lost the 2016 election. But wasn’t I a great candidate?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 18, 2018
Democrats have criticized Trump for declining to implement new sanctions against Russia that passed Congress last year by overwhelming, bipartisan margins.
A State Department spokesperson said earlier this year that the legislation allowing for the sanctions was already “serving as a deterrent” and there was no need to penalize Russia further at this time.
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