CIA Director Mike Pompeo is defending the meeting he had with at least two of Russia's three top spy chiefs in DC last week, saying it was not improper and had to do with counterterrorism issues.
The two men known to be in attendance – Sergei Naryshkin and Alexander Bortnikov – are the heads of Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) and Federal Security Service (FSB) respectively. Naryshkin is under sanctions which prohibit him from traveling to the United States.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called on Pompeo to explain why Naryshkin was allowed into the country, especially since shortly after the meeting took place, the Trump administration announced it would not be implementing new sanctions on Russia as directed by law.
Pompeo told Schumer in a letter that his meetings with Russian intelligence counterparts focused on anti-terrorism cooperation and followed similar talks held by previous administrations in both parties.
“While Russia remains an adversary, we would put American lives at greater risk if we ignored opportunities to work with the Russian services in the fight against terrorism,” Pompeo said. In those meetings, “we cover very difficult subjects in which American and Russian interests do not align” and U.S. officials “pull no punches.”
Pompeo did not address Schumer's question about whether sanctions against Russia were discussed at his meeting with the Russian officials, which took place days before the Trump administration opted to forestall new penalties that Congress called for in bipartisan legislation last year.
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Schumer responded to the letter by pointing to the CIA chief's omission of any language addressing whether the U.S. sanctions program against Moscow came up at his meeting with the Russians.
"If this administration is ignoring sanctions, that’s very serious," the New York Democrat said in a statement. "Director Pompeo’s refusal to answer that question is deeply troubling."
On Thursday, Schumer publicized a letter sent to Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, whom Reuters reports also met with Naryshkin, to pose a series of questions, including the following:
- Why did the Administration decide to host Mr. Naryshkin and his delegation in the U.S.? What, if any, preceding meetings and communications with the Russian government informed this decision?
- Was any waiver sought or similar action taken to permit Mr. Naryshkin entry into the U.S.? If a waiver was issued, who approved it and pursuant to what justification?
- What, if any, other Russian officials joined Mr. Naryshkin? Were any additional officials in the delegation subject to U.S. sanctions?
- Which Administration officials – including from the White House, the National Security Council, the Defense Department, the State Department, or the Intelligence Community – met with Mr. Naryshkin and his delegation during his time in the U.S.?
- What specific policy issues and topics were discussed by Mr. Naryshkin and U.S. officials?
CIA's Pompeo Defends Meeting Sanctioned Russian Spy Chief (Bloomberg Politics)
Pompeo on meetings with Russians: 'We vigorously defend America in these encounters' (Politico)