Russian President Vladimir Putin vows his country has ‘never interfered with the internal affairs’ of the U.S. ‘let alone its elections’ in a long, testy back and forth with Fox News Channel’s Chris Wallace.
Wallace grilled Putin on the Justice Department indictment of 12 Russians accused of interference in the presidential election as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe.
The news anchor waved the indictment to Putin and tried to hand it to him but Putin just chuckled and waved his hand toward a table, which Wallace placed the paperwork upon.
Fox News anchor Chris Wallace tried to hand President Putin a copy of the Justice Department indictment of Russian nationals for their role in the 2016 election
Putin chuckled and gestured to the table, where Wallace placed it
‘Let’s look at it this way,’ Putin said of the allegation Russia interfered in the presidential contest. ‘People are talking about the purported interference of Russia with the election process in the United States. I mentioned this in 2016, and I want to say it now again – and I really wish for your American listeners to listen to what I say. First of all, Russia, as a state, has never interfered with the internal affairs of the United States, let alone its elections.’
Wallace interrupted him and tried to question the Russian leader on specifics but Putin waved him off: ‘I will get to it. Just have a little bit of patience. Then you will get a full answer to your question. Interference with the domestic affairs of the United States — do you really believe that someone acting from the Russian territory could have influenced the United States and influenced the choice of millions of Americans?’
The president added: ‘This is utterly ridiculous.’
Wallace again tried to ask if Russia interfered and Putin said: ‘I’m about to answer. Well, this is the first point that I’m trying to make.’
The indictment charged the conspirators as belonging to the military intelligence service GRU. They were accused of a sustained cyberattack against Democratic Party targets, including the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
The Russian leader made an interesting point about the hacked information from Democratic National Committee, saying it was ‘real’ and ‘true.’
The Russian president pointed out that the information showed how the Democratic president primaries were manipulated to help Hillary Clinton at the expense of Bernie Sanders.’
The hacked emails from the party committee and its leaders showed officials at the organizing body did favor Clinton’s candidacy and helped boost her over the Vermont senator.
Liberals were outraged by the revelations and some of the DNC leadership had to resign as part of the fallout.
‘The information that I am aware of, there’s nothing false about it,’ Putin said at what came out of the hacking. ‘Every single grain of it is true. And the Democratic leadership admitted it — the first point. Now, the second point. If you don’t like my answer, you can give it to me straightway and I’ll just keep silent. And if you want Americans to listen to my opinion, could you please wait for a little bit?’
He went on to talk about special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
‘First of all, Special Counsel Mueller has accused a certain private company in Russia – that is not even a very big enterprise, its core area of competence is a restaurant business. And now, this company hired American lawyers and defending its integrity and reputation in an American court. So far, American court has not discovered any trace of interference whatsoever. Do you know it or not? But let the millions of Americans know about it. And now, to the individuals from the indictment act. With the United States, we have a treaty for assistance in criminal cases, an existing treaty that exists from 1999. It’s still in force, and it works sufficiently. Today I referred an example of its sufficient work.’
Chris Wallace was the only American journalist to interview Vladimir Putin in Helsinki
Chris Wallace, on his interview: ‘We engaged. We argued. I interrupted. He scolded me. You don’t want to miss it
Wallace tried to ask another question but Putin brushed him off.
‘Let me finish. Just let me finish. Well, you’re trying to drive, but I will finish. Why wouldn’t Special Counsel Mueller send us an official request within the framework of this agreement? Our investigators will be acting in accordance with this treaty. They will question each individual that the American partners are suspecting of something. Why not a single request was filed? Nobody sent us a single formal letter.’
Wallace then asked Putin why he thought Mueller released the indictment three days before he and Trump met.
‘I’m not interested in this issue,’ Putin responded. ‘It is single bit. It’s the internal political games of the United States. Don’t make the relationship between Russia and the United States – don’t hold it hostage of this internal political struggle. And it’s quite clear to me that this is used in the internal political struggle, and it’s nothing to be proud of for American democracy, to use such dirty methods in the political rivalry.’
Wallace inquired if the Russian leader thought Mueller was trying to sabotage his relationship with the U.S.
‘I don’t want to make any assessments about his operation. It is for Congress that appointed him to do this, to assess his performance,’ said Putin who incorrectly stated Congress’ role as it was the Justice Department who appointed Mueller. ‘And I think court actually had some doubts about the due procedure, about appointing Special Counsel Mueller to the post that he now held. I think that American court now believes that it was done with the infringement of the American legislation, but that’s none of my business. Please address it yourself.’
Wallace called his talk with Putin ‘one of the most remarkable interviews I’ve ever done’ when he spoke with Fox News’ Shepard Smith earlier Monday afternoon.
President Trump and President Putin met alone for almost two hours on Monday
Chris Wallace said his interview was ‘extraordinary’ and covered a variety of topics
The Fox News anchor was the only American journalist to get a sit-down interview with the Russian president after his meeting with President Donald Trump.
Wallace said the interview took place at the Russian Embassy in Helsinki on Monday after the leaders’ press conference and lasted about 35 minutes. He said they covered a range of subjects including the war in Syria, relationships with NATO and the situation in the Ukraine.
‘We engaged. We argued. I interrupted. He scolded me. You don’t want to miss it,’ Wallace said. ‘It’s a very full interview and I think you get a real insight into Putin’s personality.’
The Fox News anchor pointed out that he last interviewed Putin in 2005 and asked the leader what had changed since then.
He said Putin explained: ‘The world changed. Talked very much about how NATO took advantage of the weakness of Russia in the early part of the 21st century to try to weaken the country economically, militarily, encroaching on its borders and he in effect had to stand up for Russia.’
Wallace noted: ‘It was pretty extraordinary television. I’ve been doing this almost half a century now. This is one of the most remarkable interviews I’ve ever done.’