Clinton slams Trump over Russian opposition leader’s poisoning

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton slammed President Trump on Thursday over the poisoning of a Russian opposition leader to President Vladimir Putin.

Clinton tweeted her criticism of the president, saying he “does nothing,” in response to the German government’s confirmation Wednesday that Alexei Navalny was poisoned with a chemical nerve agent called Novichok.

“It’s been confirmed that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the same nerve agent used on other Putin critics,” she posted. “Meanwhile, Trump does nothing.”

“We deserve leaders who are strong enough to stand up to Putin and defend democracy,” she added.

It’s been confirmed that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned with the same nerve agent used on other Putin critics.

Meanwhile, Trump does nothing.

We deserve leaders who are strong enough to stand up to Putin and defend democracy.https://t.co/wIByjj5K57

— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) September 3, 2020

The German government determined that Navalny was poisoned last month with the same agent used to poison former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in the United Kingdom in 2018.

Navalny, who first became sick on a plane in Siberia, is being treated at a Berlin hospital while in an induced coma. The Russian government has denied any involvement in the poisoning of the Putin critic and launched its own investigation into the incident.

The White House’s National Security Council released a statement denouncing Navalny’s poisoning.

“The United States is deeply troubled by the results released today. Alexei Navalny’s poisoning is completely reprehensible,” spokesman John Ullyot said. “Russia has used the chemical nerve agent Novichok in the past.”

“We will work with allies and the international community to hold those in Russia accountable, wherever the evidence leads, and restrict funds for their malign activities,” he added.

Democrats have criticized the president as not being tough enough on Russia following reports by U.S. intelligence that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help Trump.