Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) issued a statement Friday night accusing President Donald Trump of being blackmailed by Russian President Vladimir Putin into undermining NATO.
“What does Putin have on @realDonaldTrump, politically, personally or financially?”
“Why has the Trump Administration continued to discuss pulling the U.S. out of NATO, which would be a massive victory for Putin?”
Pelosi made the unfounded accusations in a statement on the indictment and arrest for former Trump presidential campaign adviser Roger Stone early Friday morning by FBI agents at the behest of Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Pelosi tweeted out excerpts from her statement followed by a link to it at her House web page.
Roger Stone’s indictment makes clear there was a deliberate, coordinated effort by top Trump campaign officials to subvert the will of the American people during the 2016 Election. #FollowTheFacts
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 26, 2019
.@realDonaldTrump’s continued efforts to undermine Special Counsel Mueller’s investigation raises the questions:
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 26, 2019
What does Putin have on @realDonaldTrump, politically, personally or financially?
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 26, 2019
Why has the Trump Administration continued to discuss pulling the U.S. out of NATO, which would be a massive victory for Putin?
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 26, 2019
The Special Counsel investigation is working, and the House will ensure that it can continue, free from interference from the White House. Read my full statement here: https://t.co/8OSuz3eq1w
— Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 26, 2019
Full text of Pelosi’s statement:
Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued this statement after Special Counsel Mueller released a seven-count indictment of top Trump campaign advisor Roger Stone, for lying to Congress, witness tampering, and obstruction:
“The indictment of Roger Stone makes clear that there was a deliberate, coordinated attempt by top Trump campaign officials to influence the 2016 election and subvert the will of the American people. It is staggering that the President has chosen to surround himself with people who violated the integrity of our democracy and lied to the FBI and Congress about it.
“In the face of 37 indictments, the President’s continued actions to undermine the Special Counsel investigation raise the questions: what does Putin have on the President, politically, personally or financially? Why has the Trump Administration continued to discuss pulling the U.S. out of NATO, which would be a massive victory for Putin?
“Lying to Congress and witness tampering constitute grave crimes. All who commit these illegal acts should be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law. We cannot allow any effort to intimidate witnesses or prevent them from appearing before Congress.
“The Special Counsel investigation is working, and the House will continue to exercise our constitutional oversight responsibility and ensure that the Special Counsel investigation can continue free from interference from the White House.”
Pelosi has a duty to immediately move to open impeachment proceedings against President Trump if she truly believes he is being blackmailed into doing the bidding of Vladimir Putin. If she doesn’t then it will be clear she is smearing Trump in a most despicable manner to cripple his presidency.
