Dem senator says it’s ‘likely’ Putin has something on Trump

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said Monday that it is “likely” the Russian government has something on President Trump.

“It’s the standard strategy of Russia when people visit there who are important to try to get compromising information on them to set them up with hookers to tape everything that goes on in their rooms,” the Oregon Democrat said during an interview BuzzFeed News published Monday. “So, it’s likely that they have that.

.@BuzzFeedBen: “Do you think Vladimir Putin has anything on him?”@SenJeffMerkley: “I think it’s likely.”

…

Smith: “Your view is that the pee tape is real?”

Merkley: “Something close to that. Something close to that.”

From @AM2DM: pic.twitter.com/KX0LjRy04s

— Tom Namako (@TomNamako) July 16, 2018

“There are many members of Trump’s team that have different types of communications with Russia that are probably uncomfortable and, we may find out from Mueller, far beyond uncomfortable,” Merkley said, referencing special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election and possible collusion between Moscow and Trump’s campaign.

Merkley was also asked about his view that the so-called pee tape involving Trump was real.

{mosads}

“Something close to that. Something close to that,” the senator said in reference to an allegation that first surfaced in the unverified dossier created by former British intelligence operative Christopher Steele, claiming Trump ordered two prostitutes to urinate on a bed once used by the Obamas at the Moscow Ritz-Carlton.

Merkley went on to say that the president “clearly wants to convey that there is absolutely nothing there,” but the Democratic senator asked, “If there is absolutely nothing there, why are so many people under indictment?”

The senator’s remarks follow Mueller’s indictment of 12 Russian intelligence officials for their alleged role in hacking the Democratic National Committee (DNC).

Many Democratic lawmakers voiced opposition to Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday following Friday’s indictments. The president said heading into the summit that “getting along with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing.”