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Putin stays in Trump's corner on impeachment, calling the reasons 'fabricated' Putin stays in Trump’s corner on impeachment, calling the reasons ‘fabricated’
(about 1 hour later)
MOSCOW — It took roughly 90 minutes for the topic of President Trump’s impeachment to come up at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual end-of-year news conference, but when the subject was finally broached, Putin defended his American counterpart.MOSCOW — It took roughly 90 minutes for the topic of President Trump’s impeachment to come up at Russian President Vladimir Putin’s annual end-of-year news conference, but when the subject was finally broached, Putin defended his American counterpart.
Asked about Russia’s plan for continuing dialogue with the United States until the end of Trump’s presidency, Putin expressed doubt that Trump is in any danger of leaving office early, citing a Republican-majority Senate. The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to approve two articles of impeachment against Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Asked Thursday about Russia’s plan for continuing dialogue with the United States until the end of Trump’s presidency, Putin expressed doubt that Trump is in any danger of leaving office early, citing a Republican-majority Senate. The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to approve two articles of impeachment against Trump: abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
“It’s unlikely they will want to remove from power a representative of their party based on what are, in my opinion, completely fabricated reasons,” said Putin, who spoke for four hours and 20 minutes to a crowd of 1,895 journalists. “This is simply a continuation of the political infighting where one party that lost an election, the Democratic Party, is trying to achieve results using other methods and means.”“It’s unlikely they will want to remove from power a representative of their party based on what are, in my opinion, completely fabricated reasons,” said Putin, who spoke for four hours and 20 minutes to a crowd of 1,895 journalists. “This is simply a continuation of the political infighting where one party that lost an election, the Democratic Party, is trying to achieve results using other methods and means.”
Relations between Moscow and Washington are at a historic low after the U.S. intelligence community determined that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election and raised alarms it could happen again in the 2020 presidential race. But Trump and Putin have a warm relationship with Trump even publicly siding with Putin’s denial of election interference over his own agencies’ conclusions. Relations between Moscow and Washington are at a historic low after the U.S. intelligence community determined that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election and raised alarms it could happen again in 2020. But Trump and Putin have a warm relationship with Trump even publicly siding with Putin’s denial of election interference over his own agencies’ conclusions.
Then on Thursday, Putin echoed Trump’s own talking points on impeachment.Then on Thursday, Putin echoed Trump’s own talking points on impeachment.
“First they accuse Trump of a collusion with Russia, then it turns out there was no collusion so this cannot be used as a basis for impeachment,” Putin said. “Now they’ve come up with the idea he put pressure on Ukraine. I don’t know what it is all about. Your members of Congress should know better.”“First they accuse Trump of a collusion with Russia, then it turns out there was no collusion so this cannot be used as a basis for impeachment,” Putin said. “Now they’ve come up with the idea he put pressure on Ukraine. I don’t know what it is all about. Your members of Congress should know better.”
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