Ahead of Putin Summit, Trump Says ‘We’re Greatly Hampered by This Whole Witch Hunt’
Ahead of his summit in Helsinki, Finland, President Donald Trump blasted Peter Strzok‘s testimony Saturday, calling Special Counsel Robert Mueller‘s investigation a distraction from his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I think we’re greatly hampered by this whole witch hunt that’s going on in the United States, the Russian witch hunt, the rigged situation,” Trump told CBS’ Jeff Glor at from his Turnberry, Scotland golf resort. “I watched some of the testimony, even though I’m in Europe, of Strzok, and I thought it was a disgrace to our country.
Trump continued railing against the former FBI agent who’s anti-Trump text messages led to his firing from Mueller’s team, adding that Strzok wanted “to do things against me before I was even–I guess before I was even the candidate.”
The president also remarked on Strzok’s explanation of his text to former FBI lawyer Lisa Page, with whom he was having an affair, telling her “we’ll stop it,” referencing Trump’s election. In his testimony, Strzok said it did not imply he or the FBI would influence the election.
Speaking with Glor, Trump contended Strzok’s statements were weak.
“He came up with excuses,” Trump said. “I guess [he] gave in to a lawyer. Everybody laughed at it. He was a disgrace to our county. He was a disgrace to the FBI.”
Coming back to the topic of Putin, Trump said, “I think it hurts our relationship with Russia,” along with other countries.
Trump also offered little indication he had confidence in Monday’s Helsinki meeting producing any groundbreaking outcomes.
“I don’t expect anything,” he said. “I go in with very low expectations. I think that getting along with Russia is a good thing, but it’s possible we won’t.”
Watch the clip above, via CBS.
[Image via screengrab]
