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Trump rejects proposal for Russia to interrogate US citizens Trump rejects proposal for Russia to interrogate US citizens
(35 minutes later)
US President Donald Trump has rejected a proposal made by the Russian leader Vladimir Putin that Russia be allowed to question US citizens.US President Donald Trump has rejected a proposal made by the Russian leader Vladimir Putin that Russia be allowed to question US citizens.
The White House earlier said it would consider it but now says Mr Trump "disagrees" with the suggestion.The White House earlier said it would consider it but now says Mr Trump "disagrees" with the suggestion.
The offer was made at a summit of the two leaders. In return, Mr Putin suggested he might allow access to 12 Russians indicted by the US.The offer was made at a summit of the two leaders. In return, Mr Putin suggested he might allow access to 12 Russians indicted by the US.
The idea of allowing a foreign power to quiz US citizens sparked outrage.The idea of allowing a foreign power to quiz US citizens sparked outrage.
"It is a proposal that was made in sincerity by President Putin, but President Trump disagrees with it," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Thursday."It is a proposal that was made in sincerity by President Putin, but President Trump disagrees with it," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said on Thursday.
"Hopefully President Putin will have the 12 identified Russians come to the United States to prove their innocence or guilt," she said."Hopefully President Putin will have the 12 identified Russians come to the United States to prove their innocence or guilt," she said.
What was the offer?What was the offer?
In what President Trump called a "tremendous" gesture, Mr Putin said he would let US prosecutors interview the 12 Russians in exchange for Russian access to US nationals the Kremlin accuses of "illegal actions".In what President Trump called a "tremendous" gesture, Mr Putin said he would let US prosecutors interview the 12 Russians in exchange for Russian access to US nationals the Kremlin accuses of "illegal actions".
The individuals are related to Russia's case against the financier Bill Browder, a fierce Putin critic who was instrumental in the US imposing sanctions in 2012 on top Russian officials accused of corruption.The individuals are related to Russia's case against the financier Bill Browder, a fierce Putin critic who was instrumental in the US imposing sanctions in 2012 on top Russian officials accused of corruption.
Mr Browder told the BBC he was glad President Trump "isn't going to hand me over to President Putin".Mr Browder told the BBC he was glad President Trump "isn't going to hand me over to President Putin".
But he added: "I'm a little amazed that this whole conversation has taken place over a three-day period when Trump should have immediately rejected it, as any other head of state would have."But he added: "I'm a little amazed that this whole conversation has taken place over a three-day period when Trump should have immediately rejected it, as any other head of state would have."
Russia was also seeking to interview Michael McFaul, another Putin critic who was US ambassador to Moscow under President Obama.Russia was also seeking to interview Michael McFaul, another Putin critic who was US ambassador to Moscow under President Obama.
Allowing Russian officials to interview Mr McFaul would be a violation of the longstanding tradition that foreign diplomats have legal immunity.Allowing Russian officials to interview Mr McFaul would be a violation of the longstanding tradition that foreign diplomats have legal immunity.
Criticism piled up: Four Democrat senators called for the Senate to pass a resolution demanding the White House reject the proposal. One of them, Chuck Schumer, said "no president should have the power to gift-wrap American citizens".
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the idea "deeply troubling", President Obama's ex-National Security Adviser Susan Rice said it was "outrageous" while the State Department called the allegations against the US citizens "absolutely absurd".