Kelly Presses Trump Defense Deputy Nominee: “Did Russia Invade Ukraine?”
“I imagine if I asked you this question three years ago, I’m pretty sure I know what the answer would be.”
Today, during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing to consider the nomination of Stephen A. Feinberg to be Deputy Secretary of Defense, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly pressed the nominee to answer directly if Russia had invaded Ukraine. Kelly reminded him that Russia “moved tanks and troops and armored personnel carriers across the Ukrainian border—its’ a pretty simple question.”
During his questioning, Kelly also called out Trump for caving to Putin: “People who are good at negotiations do not give up their two strongest negotiating points before the negotiation starts, which was membership in NATO and land that was taken away from the Ukrainians. So, I do not agree that he is a good negotiator. This week he has been a pretty bad negotiator.”
He added, “In the same week, we blew up an eighty-year alliance. Some of our Republican colleagues have a hard time even stating the obvious, that Russia did in fact invade Ukraine three years ago.”
Sen. Kelly questions Mr. Feinberg during a SASC hearing
Click here to watch the exchange. See the transcript below:
Sen. Kelly: Putin’s a bully and I’m not hearing that from this administration. I do hear it from some people on the other side of the aisle and I appreciate that. More people need to get off the sidelines on this issue. And I think it’s clear to many of us that Donald Trump blew up the Western Alliance this past week. Eighty years of an alliance, gone. It’s disturbing. Mr. Feinberg, earlier you said execution would be your job and it’s part of the job, but I don’t think it’s all the job. You’re going to often find yourself in the room, and when things like, as an example the SecDef a few days ago said, when asked whether or not Russia invaded Ukraine, he said it’s complicated. It’s not complicated. Russia did in fact invade our ally Ukraine. So, Mr. Feinberg, would you agree that you have a role beyond just execution in offering some advice when you hear things that are just fundamentally inaccurate?
Mr. Feinberg: I do think the deputy should at times give his view on policy. For sure, I think it should be behind closed doors and not in public. And I think it’s important for the deputy to understand that he, regardless of what his opinion may or may not be, that ultimately the Secretary and the President will decide what the policies are. And it’s important to execute it.
Sen. Kelly: That’s fair. That’s good to hear. Mr. Feinberg, did Russia invade Ukraine?
Mr. Feinberg: Well, going to my behind closed doors statement a second ago, I’ll just say this…
Sen. Kelly: They moved tanks and troops and armored personnel carriers across the Ukrainian border, it’s pretty simple question. If you would ask the chairman of this committee if Russia invaded Ukraine, I’m pretty sure, the Republican chairman, I’m pretty sure I would know the answer.
Mr. Feinberg: Gotcha. However, there’s a very intense negotiation going on. It’s important for American interest.
Sen. Kelly: Mr. Feinberg, we’ve got to live in the real world here. I mean, things happen and it’s obvious to the rest of the world, and I think it’s obvious to Europe right now, that we just blew up an alliance and for us not to be able to say an obvious fact, it doesn’t help a negotiation.
Mr. Feinberg: Well, what I was trying to say, Senator, is I don’t think some person who’s not informed on this, not involved in discussions should make statements public that could undermine what the President and the Secretary’s intent is. I do have confidence that President Trump is very strong at negotiation, has a plan, and he will find a good outcome for America.
Sen. Kelly: Mr. Feinberg, people that are good at negotiations do not give up their two strongest negotiating points before the negotiation starts, which was membership in NATO, and land that was taken away from the Ukrainians. So, I do not agree with that, that he’s a good negotiator. He actually this week has been a pretty bad negotiator.
Mr. Feinberg: Actually, President Trump, you know, his policy’s always been peace through strength, and he is very cunning on how he proceeds and how he approaches these. He’s the first person to ever bring Russia to the table where we are close, potentially to a settlement. So, I’d like to see how it works out. I have confidence it will work out in favorable to America.
Sen. Kelly: Well, I do not share your optimism here. I mean this is, we went into a negotiation giving up the two biggest points and that is very troubling, and at the same time, in the same week, we blew up an eighty-year alliance. And some of my Republican colleagues have a hard time even stating the obvious that Russia did in fact invade Ukraine three years ago. I know, Mr. Feinberg, I know you pay attention to the news, and I imagine if I asked you this question three years ago, I’m pretty sure I know what the answer would be. Thank you.
