Dem lawmaker calls Russian meddling a 9/11-level national emergency

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) on Wednesday called Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election a 9/11 level national emergency.

His comment comes days after President Trump appeared to side with Russian President Vladimir Putin over his denial that Russia interfered in the election, comments Trump sought to walk back on Tuesday.

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“We are in a 9/11 national emergency because our country is under attack,” Blumenthal said during an appearance Wednesday on CNN’s “New Day.”

“Literally, that attack is ongoing and pervasive, verified by objective and verifiable evidence,” he continued.  

“We are in a 9/11” level “national emergency because our country is under attack,” says Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who wants to subpoena Trump’s Putin meeting translator and the national security team that debriefed him https://t.co/5JxFEp0OPW https://t.co/rwVBt0EwnN

— New Day (@NewDay) July 18, 2018

The Democratic senator also called for the American translator present during Trump’s private meeting with Putin on Monday to tell Congress what was said during the encounter, a demand echoed by several other Democrats.

“Issue a subpoena, not only for the translator and the notes, but also for the national security team that debriefed the president about these supposed agreements in the sphere of international security,” Blumenthal said.

“We need to move forward in the Congress, not only on this issue, but also to impose sanctions — make the Russians pay a price — and also to expose Putin’s ill-gotten gains, his assets, hidden wealth around the world,” he said.

Trump’s initial comments appearing to side with Putin over the U.S. intelligence community concerning Russian meddling in the 2016 election prompted wide backlash among lawmakers from both parties.

The president sought to walk back the comments on Tuesday, saying he misspoke. He then added that “other people” could have also been involved in election meddling.