Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Suggests Russia Attempted To Interfere In 2018 Midterm Elections
- 5 years ago
Jim Mattis suggested Saturday that Russia attempted to interfere in the 2018 US midterm elections.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, suggesting that he attempted to interfere in the 2018 U.S. midterm elections.
Mattis said at the Reagan National Defense Forum that there's "no doubt" that the U.S.-Russia relations have worsened in the last two years.
"[Putin] tried again to muck around in our elections this last month and we are seeing a continued effort along those lines," he added.
"Russia doesn't speak with one voice," Mattis continued. "We find that Russia on the surface tries to make certain very deceitful statements stick. They don't stick, their actions speak louder than words and it has worsened the relationship."
His remarks come amid President Trump's continued attacks against special counsel Robert Mueller, who's probing Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election.
"So much happening with the now discredited Witch Hunt. This total Hoax will be studied for years!" Trump wrote on Wednesday.
In another tweet, he stated: "When will this illegal Joseph McCarthy style Witch Hunt, one that has shattered so many innocent lives, ever end-or will it just go on forever? After wasting more than $40,000,000 (is that possible?), it has proven only one thing-there was NO Collusion with Russia. So Ridiculous!"
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, suggesting that he attempted to interfere in the 2018 U.S. midterm elections.
Mattis said at the Reagan National Defense Forum that there's "no doubt" that the U.S.-Russia relations have worsened in the last two years.
"[Putin] tried again to muck around in our elections this last month and we are seeing a continued effort along those lines," he added.
"Russia doesn't speak with one voice," Mattis continued. "We find that Russia on the surface tries to make certain very deceitful statements stick. They don't stick, their actions speak louder than words and it has worsened the relationship."
His remarks come amid President Trump's continued attacks against special counsel Robert Mueller, who's probing Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election.
"So much happening with the now discredited Witch Hunt. This total Hoax will be studied for years!" Trump wrote on Wednesday.
In another tweet, he stated: "When will this illegal Joseph McCarthy style Witch Hunt, one that has shattered so many innocent lives, ever end-or will it just go on forever? After wasting more than $40,000,000 (is that possible?), it has proven only one thing-there was NO Collusion with Russia. So Ridiculous!"