Rep. Louie Gohmert defended President Donald Trump's recent comments on Russian election meddling.
The U.S. president came under fire Monday after a press conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin during which he took a soft approach to Russia regarding reported interference in the 2016 election.
Trump said he held both countries responsible and placed blame on the U.S. while appearing to empathize with Russia, CBS News noted.
"I have President Putin he just said it's not Russia," Trump said in a joint statement following a summit with Putin in Helsinki, Finland. "I will say this, I don't see any reason why it would be but I really want to see the server but, I have confidence in both parties."
The comment has sparked outrage from both sides of the aisle, and Gohmert is the latest to speak up, but he is not attacking Trump.
"Both the U.S. government, Department of Justice, intel, as well as the Russians, as well as other countries, were trying to influence our election," he told The Christian Broadcasting Network.
Gohmert noted that Russia has attempted to influence U.S. elections for the past 70 years.
"We know the Justice Department was doing everything they could at the top at least to help Hillary. We knew the intelligence community at least at the top was doing what they could to help Hillary," Gohmert told CBN. "I think the biggest blockbuster out of the press conference with Putin was Putin disclosing that they have evidence that the U.S. intelligence community provided over $400 million to Hillary Clinton for her campaign. So that's something that we probably need to follow up on and find out more about as well."
A day after his meeting with Putin, Trump backtracked on his initial comments, saying he misspoke.
"I accept our intelligence community's conclusion that meddling took place," he said Tuesday, according to The Atlantic.
This has not prevented a tirade of criticism aimed at the U.S. President, including from some Republican leaders such as U.S. Senator John McCain, who called Trump's meeting with Putin "a tragic mistake" and a new low point for the U.S, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
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