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Blumenthal on Election Meddling: We Are Experiencing '9/11 National Emergency'

July 18, 2018

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D., Conn.) on Wednesday compared Russia's meddling in the 2016 U.S. election to the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, saying we are experiencing a "9/11 moment."

Blumenthal appeared on CNN to discuss President Donald Trump's comments walking back his initial remarks on Monday at the Helsinki summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The president failed during a press conference with Putin on Monday to condemn Russia for its attempts to interfere in the 2016 election, and he responded to criticism Tuesday by saying he misspoke during the press conference.

Co-host John Berman asked Blumenthal whether he thought Republicans in Congress would allow a subpoena to be issued to hear from the translator who was in the room with Trump and Putin during a closed-door meeting, which was conducted prior to the press conference Monday. Some have called for the translator to testify as to what Trump and Putin discussed in that meeting.

The Connecticut senator told Berman that the "red light is flashing" like it was before the Sept. 11 attacks and that Congress deserves to know pertinent information they discussed.

"Republicans have a historic responsibility as do all of us because the red light is flashing, as the Director of National Security Dan Coats put it, much as it was before 9/11. We are in a 9/11 national emergency because our country is under attack," Blumenthal said.

"Literally that attack is ongoing and pervasive, verified by objective and verifiable evidence," Blumenthal continued. "Those words are, again from the director of national security, and this 9/11 moment demands that we do come together, issue a subpoena not only for the translator and the notes, but also for the national security team that debriefed the president about these supposed agreements in the sphere of international security."

This is not the first time Russia's meddling has been compared to the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks or similarly devastating events. Rep. Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.) said in February that "this is as much as an attack on the United States as if there were bombs and bullets." Politico Magazine also published an op-ed on Monday in response to Trump's initial comments at the Putin summit, titled, "Putin’s Attack on the U.S. Is Our Pearl Harbor."