Russia's Lavrov dubs UK's Williamson 'minister of war

MUNICH (Reuters) - A day after British Defence Minister Gavin Williamson accused Moscow of “trying to goad the West” in a bellicose speech, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called him Britain’s minister of war. Williamson, addressing the Munich Security Conference on Friday, accused Russia of “illegal activity” on land and at sea, and called on Moscow to reset its relationship with Western countries through dialogue. Lavrov addressed the meeting on Saturday and seized the opportunity to jibe back at Williamson when asked about the security situation of the Arctic. “We want to understand what kind of mandate NATO is going to have in the Arctic,” he said. “If you listen to some people like the minister of war - oh, sorry the minister of defense - of the United Kingdom then you might get an impression that nobody except NATO have the right to be anywhere,” he added to laughter. It was not the first time Lavrov and Williamson have clashed verbally. Last year, after Williamson told Russia to “go away and shut up”, Lavrov retorted: “Maybe he lacks education.”

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-germany-security-russia/russias-lavrov-dubs-uks-williamson-minister-of-war-idUSKCN1Q50ES

House Democrats explore forcing Trump to divulge details of Putin meetings

House Democratic committee leaders have consulted with the chamber's general counsel to discuss legal options of forcing President Trump to reveal details of his private conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to a report Saturday. Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the Intelligence Committee chairman, and Rep. Eliot Engel of New York, the Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, said they have asked House General Counsel Douglas Letter about how to compel the Trump administration to provide documents or other information related to the meetings. The Democrats, Politico reported, are considering all options, including issuing subpoenas. “I had a meeting with the general counsel to discuss this and determine the best way to find out what took place in those private meetings — whether it’s by seeking the interpreter’s testimony, the interpreter’s notes, or other means,” Schiff said.

Schiff is referring to Marina Gross, the State Department translator who was the only other American present for a Trump-Putin meeting last July in Helsinki. Democrats are particularly interested in that meeting, after which the two leaders held a chummy joint press conference where Trump cast doubt that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election. Republicans in Congress condemned Trump’s performance. He mostly blamed the U.S. for Washington’s troubled relationship with Russia. Trump has previously said he "couldn't care less" if the details of his conversation with Putin in Helsinki were made public.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/house-democrats-explore-forcing-trump-to-divulge-details-of-putin-meetings