Schumer: Pompeo must give ‘shot across the bow’ to Putin on election meddling

Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is warning Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to take a hard line in his meeting this week with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“Secretary of State Pompeo must make clear that the cost of trying to interfere with American elections will be dear. Secretary of State Pompeo must deliver a shot across the bow to Putin and any other foreign adversary that would dare think about trying to influence our elections,” Schumer said from the Senate floor. 

{mosads}He added that “anything less from Secretary Pompeo will be a failure of democracy.”

Schumer’s comment comes a day before Pompeo is set to meet with Putin. President Trump will also meet with Putin at the G-20 summit in June.

Democrats have criticized Trump’s Russia policy, arguing that he’s been too soft on Moscow’s meddling during the 2016 election.

Schumer added on Monday that it’s “long past time” for the administration “to make it crystal clear that another interference campaign by Putin will not be tolerated.”

“The secretary of state, Michael Pompeo, has an obligation to warn President Putin that any action to interfere in our elections will be met with an immediate and robust response,” he said.