HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Reaction has been swift and negative after the Trump-Putin summit in Helsinki, and President Trump’s assertion that he believed Putin’s “very strong” denials as to Russia’s interference in U.S. elections. Even Fox News analysts have called Trump’s remarks aligning himself with Putin and against the U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies “a serious mistake.”
Second District Rep. Bill Huizenga R-Zeeland, and Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, each issued quick statements decrying the notion that Russia is a U.S. friend and ally and supporting the intelligence community.
“Russia is not a friend, they are a foe,” Huizenga said in a statement emailed to media. “The American intelligence community, as well as the House Committee on Intelligence, has demonstrated that Russia interfered with our election process and continues to actively undermine democracies across the globe. Russia should not be given the benefit of the doubt, they should be held accountable for their actions.”
“Russia is not our ally,” Upton said via his emailed statement to media. “As I’ve said all along – I trust our intelligence community’s assessment about Russian meddling in our election and fully support the independent Mueller investigation. My position has not changed.
“We must continue following the facts wherever they lead. We must continue holding Russia accountable for their destabilizing actions.”
In July 2017, Upton and Huizenga each voted in favor of expanded economic sanctions on Russia in retaliation for their cyber-attacks on U.S. institutions.
