Skip to main content

Meeks Issues Statement on Trump Administration Knowing Russia Offered Taliban Militants Bounties to Kill U.S. Troops

June 27, 2020

New York – Today, Congressman Gregory W. Meeks, Senior Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following statement on reports that the Trump administration was briefed in March that Russian military intelligence offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants for the killing of coalition forces, including U.S. troops:

"While the president was busy pushing to unilaterally invite Russia to the G7, his administration was apparently aware of intelligence that Russia was paying the Taliban to harm U.S. troops. It is disturbing to see reports that the Trump administration has once again been caught dithering in the face of what appears to be more Russian aggression toward the United States. There must be accountability. President Trump demonstrates his willingness to take a backseat to Putin, but U.S. troops deserve better. America deserves better."