Russia Attacks Idea of Questioning Translator From Trump-Putin Summit

Republican Senators Jeff Flake and Bob Corker have suggested that Donald Trump’s translator from the Trump-Putin summit should be asked to share their notes from the closed-door meetings held by the countries leaders. Now, Russian politicians are demanding a stop to the request.

Russia’s ambassador to the U.S., Anatoly Antonov expressed hope on Thursday that “the verbal agreements between Putin and Trump will be fulfilled.”

Konstantin Kosachev, head of the upper house of parliament’s foreign affairs committee, says the deposition of a translator could set a dangerous precedent and attack “the whole idea of diplomacy.”

U.S. officials have reason to be skeptical. Following the closed-door meeting, President Trump claimed that he was convinced there was no reason Russia would attack the United States.

Putin’s first public comments about the Summit focused on a “path to positive change.” Putin then claimed there were unnamed “forces” in the United States who were trying to stop improved relations and “putting narrow party interests above the national interest.”

Lawmakers in the United States have suggested that the translator could be deposed in a closed-door meeting to avoid any conflicts of national security.

“Look, all of us want to know what took place in this meeting,” Bob Corker said. “We’re looking into precedent there. … These are notes taken by translators, you understand in a meeting. I’m not sure it’s even appropriate. We’re checking that. If it is, certainly we’ll pursue it.”

At this time, a decision hasn’t been made as to whether Marina Gross, a State Department translator who has worked for the government for years, will be forced to share her notes from the meeting.