Nominee’s Remarks Are in Opposition to President Trump’s
President Donald Trump’s nominee to become U.S. Ambassador to Russia, Jon Huntsman, on Tuesday told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee there is “no question” that Russia interfered in the U.S. presidential election, effectively challenging Trump’s own statements.
“Russia continues to threaten stability in Europe, including by violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity of its neighbors,” Huntsman said Tuesday morning. “Russia also restricts the human rights of its own people. There is no question, underline no question, that the Russian government interfered in the U.S. election last year and Moscow continues to meddle in the democratic processes of our friends and allies,” Huntsman added.
His remarks about Russia were unprompted, the Salt Lake Tribune notes.
As recently as July President Trump has denied or downplayed Russia’s involvement in the U.S. election.
“Well, I think it was Russia, and I think it could have been other people in other countries. Could have been a lot of people interfered,” Trump told reporters at a press conference in Poland.
A former Republican presidential candidate, Huntsman has served the past five American presidents, including as President Barack Obama’s Ambassador to China.
Huntsman is expected to be easily confirmed.
The full video of Huntsman’s remarks is available above and at C-SPAN.
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