Long Island Lawmakers Blast Trump's Remarks On Russia, Putin

NORTH FORK, NY — After a press conference in Helsinki, Finland, during which Vladimir Putin said Russia had nothing to do with trying to influence the 2016 elections in the United States, and President Donald Trump's response elicited a strong reaction — followed by Trump's assertion Tuesday that he misspoke during the conference — local elected officials are blasting the President's stance in a show of bipartisan solidarity.

On Tuesday, Trump backpedaled: While he initially stated, of Putin's assertion that Russia did not interfere with the election, "He said it's not Russia. I don't see any reason why it would be," he amended that statement Tuesday, saying he misspoke and adding that he'd meant to say "wouldn't."

The President, at the Helsinki press conference, incited bipartisan outrage by aligning himself with Putin rather than his own U.S. intelligence findings. On Tuesday, however, Trump said he had "full faith," in U.S. intelligence agencies.

On Long Island, Rep. Lee Zeldin, a longtime Trump supporter, came out swinging against the comments: "Russia must stay thousands of miles away from American elections. No exceptions. Russia is an adversary that should have no leeway to meddle. I don't believe Putin's denial."

New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo blasted Trump's assertion that he misspoke on Russian election interference: "Mr. President: Do you think the American people are stupid? You're the leader of the free world — you don't misspeak when it comes to our foreign enemies. You shamefully defended those who tried to sabotage our democracy, and now Congress must decide if your remarks or actions were in fact treasonous."

In light of potential foreign interference, Cuomo announced a new cyber security initiative to strengthen election infrastructure and urged Congress to "step up" and do the same.

Rep. Peter King, who has advocated Trump's approach to issues such as tackling MS-13, said, "President Trump's refusal to accept the documented findings and overwhelming evidence that Russia flagrantly interfered in our 2016 election is indefensible."

And, said Rep. Tom Suozzi, "I cannot understand why the President continues to have a blind spot with the Russians and Putin. Something is seriously wrong. . . The President has thrown America's intelligence community under the bus and sided with the Russians while on foreign soil."

Rep. Kathleen Rice agreed: "President Trump’s actions yesterday weren't just shameful, they were dangerous & potentially treasonous. The American intelligence community confirmed that Russia is actively trying to interfere in the 2018 election, yet Trump continues to believe Putin over our own experts. We need nothing less than an all-hands-on-deck response."

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