ICYMI: Shaheen Questions Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Following Disastrous Helsinki Summit

**Shaheen focused on the Helsinki summit and information President Trump and Putin discussed regarding national security interests in Syria and Iran**

**You can watch the video here**

(Washington, DC) – Today U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) questioned Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on the Helsinki Summit between President Trump and Vladimir Putin. Shaheen focused her questioning on United States national security interests vis-a-vis Russia and Syria and pressed Secretary Pompeo on why the Trump administration continues to leave Congress and the American people in the dark regarding the President’s private meeting with Vladimir Putin.

You can watch their full exchange HERE.

Senator Shaheen has led the call for the Trump administration to allow for Congress to receive testimony from the United States interpreter present in President Trump and Vladimir Putin’s private meeting in Helsinki, Finland. Shaheen has condemned the President’s remarks in Helsinki that side with Vladimir Putin over American intelligence agencies, and the men and women working tirelessly to protect the United States from Putin’s aggression.

Ahead of the Helsinki Summit, Senator Shaheen called on President Trump to confront Putin about the indictment of 12 Russian nationals for Russia’s attack on the 2016 US elections, and the Kremlin’s continued efforts to meddle in elections in the United States and other western democracies. Senator Shaheen has led efforts in Congress to hold Russia accountable for its election interference, and was the first legislator to call for hearings into their meddling. Because of her role as a negotiator on Russia sanctions legislation known as “CAATSA” and her efforts to hold Russia accountable for its aggression, Shaheen was sanctioned by the Kremlin in December.

Shaheen recently visited Syria on a bipartisan congressional delegation, which reaffirmed her commitment to finding a proper and legal way to bring foreign fighters to justice for their crimes in Syria and ensuring the timely release of stabilization funds to this region and a comprehensive strategy. Shaheen previously urged the leadership of the Senate State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Subcommittee, as well as the leadership of the Senate Armed Services Committee, to move forward and establish a Syria Study Group. 

Senator Shaheen is also a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and serves as a co-chair of the recently re-established Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Observer Group.