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Fmr. Clinton Surrogate on Obama Response to Russian Meddling: 'Frustration for All' He Didn't Act More 'Quickly, Aggressively'

March 5, 2018

Former Hillary Clinton campaign surrogate Christine Quinn said she and other former Clinton aides were frustrated with the lack of response from then-President Barack Obama to Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

CNN host John Berman asked Quinn, a former New York City Council Speaker, about President Donald Trump's criticism of the Obama administration for not taking strong action when it was informed of Russian meddling.

"As you look back, do you wish that the Obama administration had done more and done more publicly?" Berman asked.

"I certainly do," Quinn said. "I mean, you know, big fan of President Obama's obviously, but there's no question that things were going on, that meddling was occurring in the presidential race–and there's even evidence now to indicate in other races–in a real way. And I think it was a frustration for all of us close to the Clinton campaign towards the end, and after the election, about why ... President Obama didn't move more quickly and aggressively."

Quinn is not the first Democrat to complain the Obama administration didn't react appropriately to the threat from Russia. Rep. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.) said in February that the former administration bore some responsibility for Russian interference campaign in the 2016 election by suggesting it emboldened the Kremlin.

In June, former Obama administration officials told the Washington Post they failed to properly respond to the Russian threat. At the time of the Post report, Trump also castigated his predecessor, saying Obama did "noting" because "he expected Clinton would win."