Russia's meddling in American elections is a "9/11 level national emergency, because our country is under attack, literally," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., told CNN's "New Day" on Wednesday.
The Connecticut senator added "this 9/11 moment demands that we do come together" and issue a subpoena not only for the translator that was with President Donald Trump in his private talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin but also for the national security team that debriefed the president about these supposed agreements concerning international security alluded to by the TAAS news agency and which the American people were told nothing about.
When asked if he thought the GOP in Congress would go along with the idea, Blumenthal replied "Republicans have a historic responsibility, as do all of us, because the red light is flashing, as the Director of National [Intelligence] Dan Coats put it, much as it was before 9/11."
Blumenthal, who sits on the Judiciary and Armed Services Committee, stressed "We need to move forward in the Congress, not only on this issue, but also to imposed sanctions – make the Russians pay a price."
The senator also cast doubt on the sincerity of Trump's attempts to walk back his comments in Helsinki. The president in his press conference in Finland appeared to indicate he sided with Putin over the U.S. intelligence community concerning Russian meddling, but back in Washington said he misspoke.
The senator said he was underwhelmed by Trump's attempt at damage control, explaining, "It was backhanded and half-hearted. Too little, too late."
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