Coats: 'I'm Not In A Position To Either Understand Fully Or Talk About' Helsinki

[DonViejo]

Source: Talking Points Memo



By Nicole Lafond | August 2, 2018 2:23 pm

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told reporters on Thursday that he was not in a position to “either understand fully or talk about” what happened in Helsinki when President Donald Trump appeared to publicly embrace Vladimir Putin’s denial of election meddling.


Coats tossed the question to National Security Adviser John Bolton when he was asked to explain the “disconnect” between what the President’s advisers have said on the issue of Russian interference in the 2016 election and what President Trump has said on the issue.

“I’m not in a position to either understand fully or talk about what happened in Helsinki,” he said.

Link to tweet

While the dodge could be seen as a deflection simply because he was not in Helsinki during the summit with Putin, his response was particularly telling given Coats’ initial criticism of Trump’s press conference with Putin last month.

Read more: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/coats-not-position-fully-understand-helsinki

[Tommy_Carcetti]

1. Well, how about you resign, Dan, and then we'll have a little talk. nt

[saidsimplesimon]

2. A rec for the Obama quote in your sig line

[lagomorph777]

3. I heard that one. Amazing to hear that from a senior US Govt official.

Makes it pretty clear Trump was up to something bad in Helsinki and he's afraid to share it with his staff.

[LuckyLib]

4. That says it all. I don't understand, nor can I talk about what happened in Helsinki.

US Director of National Intelligence.

JFC on a pogo stick.