Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Friday warned Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stay out of American elections” following a report that the Russian government was attempting to support his presidential campaign.
According to the Washington Post, U.S. officials have told Sanders that the Russians were seeking to bolster his campaign as part of a broader effort to interfere with the 2020 election. The story did not describe how the Russian government was doing so.
Calling Putin “an autocratic thug who is attempting to destroy democracy and crush dissent in Russia,” Sanders said he stood “firmly against their efforts.”
“I don’t care, frankly, who Putin wants to be president,” he said in the written statement. “My message to Putin is clear: stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do.”
During his 2016 presidential campaign, according to former special counsel Robert Mueller, the Russian government used social media to support Sanders and President Donald Trump. In Friday’s statement, Sanders suggested that the Russians were using similar tactics in this election. “Some of the ugly stuff on the internet attributed to our campaign may well not be coming from real supporters,” he said, echoing a similar sentiment he voiced at Wednesday’s Democratic debate in Las Vegas.
On Thursday, the New York Times reported that intelligence officials had told members of the U.S. House that Russia was seeking to bolster Trump’s reelection in part by meddling in the Democratic primary.
Got something to say?
Send a letter to the editor and we'll publish your feedback in print!
What a shocker. Many millions spent, lives ruined and valuable time wasted trying to to fabricate a relationship between Trump and Russia when in truth, they’d rather have an America hating, Communist sympathizing, multi-home owning Socialist in office. I’m afraid for America if this nut-job gets elected. Get on board the Trump Train people. It’s crowded but there’s always room for folks with common sense and a love of our country.
Now THAT’S classy!
I am still waiting to hear Trump say anything close to what Bernie has said about Putin’s interference in our elections.
Trump has been compromised by Putin and he is a man with no morals or ethics. In fact , he is a greedy coward, like the bulk of the GOP.
This is how empires die, this is how democracy and the bogus rigged for the rich “free market” has failed.
Oh, yeah. ACCEPT, BELIEVE, and EMBRACE the intelligence information about Russian interference when it applies to Bernie, but REJECT that very same intelligence information when it applies to the lying, law-breaking, dim-witted authoritarian in the White House, when that very same intelligence information comes from the the very same source: Trump’s OWN Director of National Intelligence, whom he then fired for telling the truth.
How many honest, patriotic Americans—Republicans, conservatives, decorated military officers, including many, many people chosen by Trump himself—have to tell the brainwashed morons that the Russians are interfering on behalf of Trump.
So the guy who’s spent his life advocating for socialism, honeymoons in Russia, and is a communist himself can’t understand why Russia would like him to be president? Ok Sanders whatever you say.
If the Russians interfere in the election that behooves Trump, then it’s an outrage.
If Russian interference benefits Bernie, then its just tolerated.
@ Forestgimp
No, sir. It*s an outrage no matter who it is. Americans should not vote for any person that our intelligence services say Putin is interfering for, whether it*s Bernie or Trump. If Putin is pulling for you, whether you*re Bernie or you*re Trump, there*s a damned good reason for it, and we should all be scared of that reason. It*s because he knows you*re someone he can beat on the international stage. Theres no doubt he can take advantage of Bernie. And he*s already proven that he owns Trump.
Hey KNOWYOURASSUMPTIONS, ever hear of the Mueller Report? You’re in a real pickle now with your assumed hatred towards both President Trump and Bernie.
Can’t wait to hear how this smart guy splains this.
BTW, if Russian interference comes down to social media trolling, it doesn’t matter what KNOWYOURASSUMPTIONS thinks, we’re all screwed!
In other words, chill out…
Bernie is a victim of Russian meddling in our domestic elections.
trump-mcconnell-gop-vtgop encourage, accept, and weaponize Putin’s war-like assault against our nation, and they do so openly and with great alacrity.
There – now you know the difference.
This is not new nor is it partisan. Governments and individuals have and will continue to try to influence the governments of other countries. It is up to each nation to call it out and act to prevent it.
If you believe the government isn’t willing or able to deal with foreign meddling, why would you trust them with your healthcare?
Rama buddy, relax and ask doctor feel good to adjust your meds.
Oops. Looks like our nations top election security officer may have over stated Russia’s attempts to influence our elections.
https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/23/politics/in…
What’s your narrative now what Rama?
Only the most bitter comments, and the most negative, will mobilize the “dislikers” on these threads. I think they should start a nice little right-wing local paper of their own – they don’t like this one, we know that. For all we know, the Russians are trying to make it look like no one trusts Bernie. I do. I will vote for any Democrat over Trump.
The Mueller Report did not exonerate Trump. Barr, however, tried to say it had.
I’m starting to get a sense of the delusional thinking that has Bernie this close to a DNC nomination.
How many dishonest, unpatriotic Americans—Republicans, conservatives, decorated military officers, including many, many people implanted by Obama himself—want to convince the brainwashed, braindead morons that the Russians are interfering on behalf of Trump? Is this the sequel to the Mueller investigation hoax?
Putin has proven he owns the libs, since he’s been living in their heads since 2015.
For the less informed partisans, the Mueller report wasn’t written and the investigation wasn’t conducted to exonerate anyone, and certainly not Trump.
What’s odd is the partisans, such as a couple posting here, are so delusional they forget that we live in a land where you are presumed innocent, until proven guilty. A three year, $45 million investigation, with 19 prosecutors, 40 FBI assigned officials, 500 witnesses, 2,800 subpoenas, 500 search-and-seizure warrants and not one single charge against the target of their hoax, but tell us again how Putin owns Trump, or who the brainwashed numb skulls are.
So, @ GreenMTNBoy2
The guy who just announced that the Russians are interfering on behalf of Trump is a guy who TRUMP picked as the Director of National Intelligence. Please explain how McGuire is an Obama *plant*.
GMtn2 –
“Who the brainwashed numb skulls are”? Indeed.
I’m not surprised that Trumpniks would want Bernie as the nominee. Dems who are less cynical than I am about the party’s ability to avoid shooting themselves in the foot might sputter “but… but… Bernie and Trump play to the same pool of populist ‘independents'” and, sure, Bernie sells well in some swing states and is looking good in the primaries because his policies reflect what most Americans, especially Democrats, really want to see happen.
But think – really think hard, now – about what you should be expecting from the mass media (including Bloombergian meme factories and social media channels, which are as ‘the much mainstream media’ as CNN) in case of a Bernie-Trump matchup. Play out the divisiveness to its logical conclusion, see the memes in your head…
Between two populists competing for the swing-state Bud Light crowd, the flag-hugging blowhard will always win. Why? Because he hugs the flag, when his opponent is trying to rationally explain “both sides” comments about Castro.
” A three year, $45 million investigation, with 19 prosecutors, 40 FBI assigned officials, 500 witnesses, 2,800 subpoenas, 500 search-and-seizure warrants and not one single charge against the target …”
Your summary overlooks the 34 people that Mueller “has indicted, convicted or gotten guilty pleas from….” https://news.yahoo.com/indictments-guilty-…
That includes, of course, some of the highest ranking officials in Trump’s campaign and his administration.
You also fail to mention that the reason that there were no charges against Trump is that Mueller opted to follow Justice Department policy which states that a sitting president cannot be indicted while in office. Mueller made it quite clear that he was NOT exonerating the president.