Congressman Bill KeatingCompte certifié

This morning, as Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, I was invited with a handful of Democratic Members for a briefing regarding reports of Russia placing bounties on US soldiers. (1/11)

President Trump said he considers such reporting “possibly another fabricated Russia hoax” spread by the “fake news;” yet, open sources have verified officials reports on the matters including a CIA “wire “report. (2/11)

President Trump said he was not briefed on this; yet, open sources detailed a February 27th Presidential briefing document referencing this. (3/11)

President Trump said “Intel just reported to me they did not find this info credible;” yet, it was the subject of meetings at the White House National Security Council in March. (4/11)

At the meeting, I raised a concern that during the period since the Presidential briefing document, the President has had at least five personal calls with Putin, never raising the issue of Russians alleged bounty actions. (5/11)

Indeed, during this time, he has made major funding cuts from the European Deterrence Initiative – a US/Europe cooperative effort to stay Russian aggression – a move that was a boon to Putin. (6/11)

He has ordered a cut of 25% troops from Germany, which houses US, European, and North African commands – a boon to Putin. (7/11)

And he has sought to invite Putin to the G-7 countries summit in the US, after Russia has been expelled since its aggression toward Ukraine – a boon to Putin. (8/11)