"The Democratic Party Does Not Want Bernie Sanders as Their Presidential Candidate"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] U.S. President Donald Trump has pointed to Adam Schiff, a Democratic member of the House Intelligence Committee, as the mastermind behind allegations that Russia attempted to interfere in the U.S. presidential election.
The allegation claims that Russia is backing Senator Bernie Sanders as the Democratic presidential candidate, and that Schiff, who does not want Sanders to become the nominee, fabricated these suspicions.
Schiff, who led the impeachment efforts, has an adversarial relationship with President Trump.
On the 23rd (local time), while departing for a visit to India, President Trump told reporters, "No one has ever reported that to me," regarding the suspicion that Russia is helping the Sanders campaign, adding, "Adam Schiff and his group leaked it to the media."
He continued, "Adam Schiff should be investigated in connection with this."
President Trump also said, "The Democratic Party is treating Sanders unfairly."
U.S. media analysts interpret President Trump's remarks as an attempt to shift the blame for the 'Russia interference theory' onto Schiff, framing it as an internal Democratic Party issue because they do not want Senator Sanders as their presidential candidate. They also noted that this makes it appear as though President Trump is siding with Senator Sanders.
So far, President Trump has openly expressed support for Senator Sanders among the Democratic presidential primary candidates. Major U.S. media interpret this as a strategic calculation that if the left-leaning Senator Sanders is nominated as the presidential candidate, labeling him a 'socialist' would be advantageous for President Trump's re-election.
Meanwhile, Robert O'Brien, the White House National Security Advisor, also stated regarding the Russia interference theory that "he has not heard any intelligence on this."
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