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.
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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.
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.
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…
@ 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.
If the Russians interfere in the election that behooves Trump, then it’s an outrage.
If Russian interference benefits Bernie, then its just tolerated.
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.
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.
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.
Now THAT’S classy!
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.