Trump vents frustration over Russia probe

WEST PALM BEACH, Florida (AP) — US President Donald Trump vented his fury over the Russia probe on Sunday, arguing that the Obama administration bears some of the blame, insisting that he never denied the election meddling and declaring that “they are laughing their asses off in Moscow.”

In a rapid-fire series of tweets from his Palm Beach estate, the president unloaded over the Russia investigation, days after an indictment from special counsel Robert Mueller charged 13 Russians with a plot to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election.

While the nearby town of Parkland, Florida, continues to mourn a deadly school shooting that left 17 dead, Russia was clearly at the top of the president’s mind. The administration has focused on the fact that the Russian effort began in 2014, before Trump announced his White House run, and Trump continued that argument Sunday.

Now that Adam Schiff is starting to blame President Obama for Russian meddling in the election, he is probably doing so as yet another excuse that the Democrats, lead by their fearless leader, Crooked Hillary Clinton, lost the 2016 election. But wasn’t I a great candidate?

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 18, 2018

He said the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, California Representative Adam Schiff — calling him “Liddle’ Adam Schiff, the leakin’ monster of no control” — “is now blaming the Obama Administration for Russian meddling in the 2016 Election.”

Finally, Liddle’ Adam Schiff, the leakin’ monster of no control, is now blaming the Obama Administration for Russian meddling in the 2016 Election. He is finally right about something. Obama was President, knew of the threat, and did nothing. Thank you Adam!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 18, 2018

Trump appeared to be referring to an interview Schiff did with NBC in which he said the previous administration should have set up a “more forceful deterrent” against foreign adversaries considering cyberattacks.

Obama in late 2016 defended his administration’s response to the Russian meddling, also saying he had confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin that September, telling him to “cut it out.”

Trump also argued that he “never said Russia did not meddle in the election,” adding: “The Russian ‘hoax’ was that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia – it never did!”

I never said Russia did not meddle in the election, I said “it may be Russia, or China or another country or group, or it may be a 400 pound genius sitting in bed and playing with his computer.” The Russian “hoax” was that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia – it never did!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 18, 2018

The president has repeatedly expressed skepticism over the Russian election meddling. In November, he said he believed the conclusion of US intelligence agencies that there had been meddling. But Trump also said he believed Putin is sincere when he says Russia didn’t interfere.

Trump also argued Sunday that the ongoing investigations are just what the Russians want, saying: “Investigations and Party hatred, they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. They are laughing their asses off in Moscow. Get smart America!”

If it was the GOAL of Russia to create discord, disruption and chaos within the U.S. then, with all of the Committee Hearings, Investigations and Party hatred, they have succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. They are laughing their asses off in Moscow. Get smart America!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 18, 2018

Trump also raged against law enforcement over an Obama-era payment to Iran. He tweeted that he’s “never gotten over the fact that Obama was able to send $1.7 Billion Dollars in CASH to Iran and nobody in Congress, the FBI or Justice called for an investigation!”

The Obama administration transferred the money to Iran in 2016, using non-US currency. The administration said it was the settlement of a decades-old arbitration claim between the countries. An initial payment was delivered the same day Tehran agreed to release four American prisoners.

The Obama administration eventually acknowledged the cash was used as leverage for the Americans to be allowed to leave Iran. Congressional Republicans decried the payment as ransom, which the Obama administration denied.