Representative Ted W. Lieu (D | Los Angeles County) has issued the following statement in light of the news that President Trump apparently revealed classified information derived from Israel in his meeting last week with Russian officials at the White House.

“We have heard a number of times from the White House that President Trump’s conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov was ‘wholly appropriate.’ However, nothing could be further from the truth. In his conversation with Lavrov, Trump apparently divulged to the Russians highly classified information collected by Israel. This is utterly disturbing on many levels.”

“Trump’s reckless actions threaten to damage our relationship with Israel. It is mindboggling that the President would jeopardize that relationship – and the lives of US and Israeli citizens in the process – to mindlessly boast and misguidedly placate the Russians, while throwing Israel under the bus in the process.”

“Given Russia’s close relationship with Iran, it’s even more concerning this kind of sensitive intelligence could make it into the hands of Iran and its proxy Hezbollah, which seek the destruction of Israel. Other US allies are now dissuaded from sharing sensitive information with the US because they can’t trust the Administration. Trump’s dangerous actions call into question his fitness as President and must be investigated by Congress to the fullest.”