Hours before his much-discussed address to the Republican National Convention, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for a "comprehensive investigation" into the alleged poisoning of Russian dissident Alexei Navalny.
"The United States is deeply concerned by reported preliminary conclusions from German medical experts that Navalny was poisoned," Pompeo declared, referring to the examination by physicians of Navalny's collapse last week aboard a flight leaving Siberia.
If the reports prove accurate about the poisoning of the politician, who The Wall Street Journal once dubbed "the man Vladimir Putin fears most," Pompeo promised "the United States supports the European Union's call for a comprehensive investigation and stands ready to assist in that effort."
The secretary of state emphasized that the Navalny family and the Russian people "deserve to see a full and transparent investigation carried out, and for those involved to be held accountable."
Pompeo's strong words came as Putin opponents throughout the world were growing increasingly critical of the watered down statements about Navalny's plight coming from the Trump administration.
Asked by Newsmax last Friday if President Donald Trump had any reaction to Navalny's situation, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway replied: "I don't know what his reaction is. You'll have to ask him."
Pompeo added that "our thoughts are with Mr. Navalny's family and we hope for his full recovery."
John Gizzi is chief political columnist and White House correspondent for Newsmax. For more of his reports, Go Here Now.
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