AMBASSADOR/NOMINATIONS/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be ambassador to Russia, said on Tuesday [9-19-17] there was ‘no question’ Moscow meddled in the 2016 U.S. election, and pledged to bring up the matter with the Russian government…
Many members of Congress, including several of Trump’s fellow Republicans, are concerned the president will not take a hard enough line in dealings with Russia to combat Russian expansionism in eastern Europe or its support for Syria’s government in that country’s civil war.
Despite Trump’s objections, lawmakers in late July passed a tough package of sanctions on Russia that included barring him from easing them without congressional approval.
Huntsman said he thought any action on sanctions should be tied to whether Russia ends its aggression in Ukraine.
Russia has denied interfering in the election, but U.S. intelligence agencies’ conclusion that it did so to boost Trump’s chances of being elected have shadowed his presidency.
Congressional committees and a special counsel are investigating whether Trump associates colluded with Russia.
The White House has denied any collusion and Russia has denied any involvement.
Huntsman said he would raise the issue with Russian authorities.”
-Patricia Zengerle, “Trump choice for Russia ambassador: ‘No question’ Russia meddled,” Reuters, Sept. 19, 2017 08:05am