Schumer Statement on the Conclusion of G-20 Summit: Putin Meeting was Embarrassing Low-Point

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today released the statement below regarding the conclusion of the G-20 summit:

“While a few good things came out of this summit, overall it was an embarrassment to our country and our ideals. Clearly the lowest moment of all was his meeting with Vladimir Putin, on several counts.

“As our Intelligence Community has unanimously concluded - and as the American people agree - the President of Russia clearly and deliberately interfered in our elections and sought to undermine and destabilize our democracy. Rather than decisively confronting the Russian President head on, the President seemed to acquiesce to Putin's denial, almost certainly paving the way for future Russian interference in our elections.

“There were other low and embarrassing points as well. President Trump agreeing with Putin to form a so called working group on cyber security is like police officers and bank robbers agreeing to form a working group on bank robberies. And when President Putin and President Trump both laughed at and mocked the free press in unison, President Trump is coming uncomfortably close to accepting the same kind of authoritarian and autocratic norms in our society that Putin relishes in his.

“It’s clear that President Trump is not willing to be the guardian of American interests when it comes to dealing with Putin. The House of Representatives has no choice but to step in and fill that void by passing our tough, bipartisan sanctions bill to finally punish Russia for their intrusion in our 2016 elections.”

###