Rep. Marsha Blackburn Stands By Trump After Leak Allegations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Marsha Blackburn, a Brentwood Republican, defended President Donald Trump from allegations that the president shared highly classified information with Russian diplomats.

After The Washington Post's bombshell story that the president revealed classified details relating to a crucial intelligence source in the fight against ISIS to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak at a closed-door meeting in the White House last Wednesday, many lawmakers, including some Republicans, criticized the Trump Administration.

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But Blackburn, a Trump ally who served on his transition team and was considered in the running for some Cabinet positions, defended the President.

"Classified intelligence is a vital tool in fighting Islamic extremism and it is imperative that we are diligent in protecting our sources and methods," she said in a statement. "Officials who were in the room have reiterated that no sources or operations were revealed. The president prioritizes the safety and security of the American people first and foremost, and working with other countries to defeat shared threats like ISIS should not be discounted.”

Blackburn and fellow Middle Tennessee Republican House member Diane Black were among the loudest critics of then-Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during the investigation of a private email server she used during her time as Secretary of State.

“She cared more about her personal perspective and what people would think about her then she cared about keeping the secrets of the country,” Blackburn said a television interview in July.

U.S. officials told the Washington Post Trump was "boasting" to the Russians during last week's meeting, saying, "I get great intel. I have people brief me on great intel every day.”