Obama: 'quid pro quo' accusations don't reflect 'actual events'
The president now answers a question about an apparent discussion, revealed in notes taken by the FBI, between the FBI and state department officials as to the appropriate classification level of certain Clinton emails. Critics say the discussion represents a negotiation in which the FBI expected favors for reducing the classification status of emails. The status was important as a measure of just how sensitive was the material Clinton handled on her private email server.
“Undersecretary of State Patrick Kennedy personally tried to convince FBI officials that the email should be declassified,” CNN reported. “One interviewee described feeling “pressured” by another FBI official at Kennedy’s request.” But the FBI has denied any quid pro quo.
Obama says the charges “aren’t based on actual events”:
I think you’ve heard directly from both the FBI and the state department that... the accounts that have been put out there are just not true... based on what we have seen, heard, learned, some of the more sensational implications or appearances... aren’t based on actual events, what actually happened, and I think derive from overly broad characterizations of interactions between the state department and the FBI that happen a lot, happens between agencies.
“Mr Trump rarely surprises me these days. I’m much more surprised by Republican officials now supporting and in some cases echoing” Putin’s policy approaches, Obama says.
Obama calls out Republican hypocrisy on Trump and Putin
Obama is taking questions. Two doozies: he’s asked about Trump’s approach to Putin. And he’s asked about communication between the FBI and state department about classification of Hillary Clinton emails.
Obama says he’ll be subdued in discussing the race “in this context.” But he would like to talk about Russia. When he arrived in office, Russia had invaded parts of Georgia and Obama tried to reach out to Medvedev, “acknowledging enormous differences.” He names the new Start treaty and WTO membership for Russia as well as “international challenges.”
Obama said he’s talked with Putin about cooperation. “The challenge... is very much centered on Russian aggression... in Ukraine, where they have engaged in similar conduct to what they did in Georgia... in Syria... he doubled down in his support for Assad..”
“So any characterization that somehow we have improperly challenged Russian aggression or have somehow tried to encroach on their legitimate interest is just wrong. And Mr Trump’s continued flattery of Mr Putin and the degree to which he appears to model many of his... approaches to politics on Mr Putin is unprecedented in American politics.”
Then Obama questions how Republicans who criticized his efforts to reach out to Russia can now back Trump.
“You’ll have to explain to me how it is that some of the same leaders of the Republican party who were constantly haranguing us for even talking to the Russians... including Mr Trump’s selection for vice president now reconcile their endorsement of Mr Trump with their previous views.”
Here’s a metaphor for the election. An elephant rushes into the water to rescue a trainer she believes is drowning (at least that’s how the action in this footage is described, and sure enough that looks like a lifeguard move on the elephant’s part). Just as the GOP sensing a nation in peril has leapt to its rescue but wait the nation was just going for a swim now what.
Baby elephant rushes into river to rescue her trainer who she thought was drowning at Elephant Nature Park in Thailand. pic.twitter.com/HaY9zfsNxn
Hillary Clinton has just boarded her plane for Las Vegas, where the third presidential debate will be held tomorrow night. Donald Trump has two stops in Colorado today before arriving in Las Vegas tonight.
Hillary Clinton, boarding plane to Vegas, ignores shouted questions about debate prep, offering a thumbs up instead. pic.twitter.com/qZO2fmZQ2C
The John Podesta emails released by Wikileaks include one with an early long list of potential running mates for Clinton, grouped by Podesta into what he calls “food groups” – Latinos, women, white men, African Americans, military officers and business leaders.
Bernie Sanders was his own food group (greens? dessert? Superfoods?). Here’s the full list of 39:
Comments (…)
Sign in or create your Guardian account to join the discussion