RUSSIA/STATE/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Two groups representing U.S. diplomats scolded President Donald Trump for entertaining the idea of handing former Ambassador Michael McFaul over to Russia for questioning, saying such a move would ensure that ‘no diplomat could be secure in carrying out his or her instructions from Washington’…On Monday [7-16-18], Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested in a joint news conference with Trump that Moscow be allowed to interview Americans in exchange for allowing Washington to interview Russians, such as the 12 recently indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller. The next day, the Russian government released a wish list of 11 Americans it would like to question, including McFaul. Trump on Monday called the proposal an ‘incredible offer,’ and White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday [7-18-18] said he would ‘work with his team and determine’ whether or not it was a good idea. However, on Thursday, amid near-universal criticism, the White House said in a statement that Trump ‘did not agree’ with the concept. The two diplomatic groups added their own alarming take, even after Trump’s reversal, saying the administration must be clear in its support for members of the foreign service.”
–Eleanor Mueller, Diplomats scold Trump for toying with idea of Russia interrogation swap,” Politico, July 20, 2018 12:32 pm