About a month ago, U.S. officials briefed Bernie Sanders on Russia's efforts to promote his presidential campaign.
"We were told that Russia, maybe other countries, are going to get involved in this campaign," Sanders stated on Friday.
The Vermont senator then condemned Russia’s president Vladimir Putin, calling him an 'autocratic thug' and a 'good friend' of Trump.
“I don't care, frankly, who Putin wants to be president,” Sanders said, “my message to Putin is clear: stay out of American elections, and as president, I will make sure that you do.”
“Unlike Donald Trump, I do not consider Vladimir Putin a good friend. He is an autocratic thug who is attempting to destroy democracy and crush dissent in Russia,” he continued.
Senator Sanders later denounced any efforts of a foreign state to intervene in the U.S. presidential elections, “Let´s be clear, the Russians want to undermine American democracy by dividing us up and, unlike the current president, I stand firmly against their efforts, and any other foreign power that wants to interfere in our election.”
The news came amid Donald Trump’s denial of a report alleging his former acting Director of National Intelligence, Joseph Maguire, told Congress that Moscow wanted President Trump to be re-elected.
“Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates who still have been unable to, after two weeks, count their votes in Iowa. Hoax number 7!' Trump twitted on Friday, calling the report a “hoax”.
Maguire was removed from his position as Acting Director of National Intelligence.