The 2020 Democratic presidential candidates had harsh words for President Trump after he said he would take opposition research if a foreign government offered it before the 2020 presidential election.
“President Trump is once again welcoming foreign interference in our elections. This isn’t about politics. It is a threat to our national security. An American President should not seek their aid and abet those who seek to undermine democracy,” Joe Biden said Wednesday in response to Trump’s comments.
President Trump is once again welcoming foreign interference in our elections. This isn’t about politics. It is a threat to our national security. An American President should not seek their aid and abet those who seek to undermine democracy.
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) June 13, 2019
“China is listening. Russia is listening. North Korea is listening. Let’s speak the truth: this president is a national security threat,” Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., said.
China is listening.
Russia is listening.
North Korea is listening.Let’s speak the truth: this president is a national security threat. https://t.co/wsPYTzq0u0
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 13, 2019
Trump said Wednesday he would have no problem accepting opposition research from foreign governments and did not think agents offering research should be reported to the FBI.
“I think you might want to listen. There’s nothing wrong with listening. If somebody called from a country, Norway, ‘We have information on your opponent.’ Oh, I think I would want to hear it,” Trump said Wednesday in an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos.
“It’s not an interference,” Trump added. “They have information, I think I’d take it.”
“This is inexcusable. The President of the United States just effectively gave permission to foreign agents to interfere in our elections,” Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said. “We need my Secure Elections Act and Honest Ads Act passed immediately. The 2020 elections are not secure. Disgraceful.”
This is inexcusable. The President of the United States just effectively gave permission to foreign agents to interfere in our elections. We need my Secure Elections Act and Honest Ads Act passed immediately. The 2020 elections are not secure. Disgraceful. https://t.co/Ht8GwBA0Aj
— Amy Klobuchar (@amyklobuchar) June 13, 2019
Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., both renewed calls for Trump to be impeached.
The #MuellerReport made it clear: A foreign government attacked our 2016 elections to support Trump, Trump welcomed that help, and Trump obstructed the investigation. Now, he said he’d do it all over again. It’s time to impeach Donald Trump. https://t.co/yk25iGYpmC
— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) June 12, 2019
It’s time for Congress to begin impeachment hearings. https://t.co/yYG6oqHfCm
— Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) June 12, 2019
The definition of collusion from the man guilty of obstruction. https://t.co/IcwdXYBST8
— Seth Moulton (@sethmoulton) June 13, 2019
House Democrats have been split on how to respond to special counsel Robert Mueller’s assertion that Trump did not conspire with the Russians during the 2016 presidential election, though he may have obstructed justice.
Currently, 60 of the 235 House Democrats support opening an impeachment inquiry against Trump, but Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said the democratic caucus is “not even close” on the issue.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called Trump’s comments “disgraceful.”
“Disgraceful yet sadly par for the course for this president. When the president talks like this, it’s no wonder @SenateMajLdr McConnell is blocking bipartisan efforts to secure our elections from foreign interference,” Schumer said.
