Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has expressed fears that the United States (U.S.) is ill-prepared to prevent Russia from meddling with its forthcoming midterm poll, the same way it interfered in the 2016 general election.
There are indications that Russia is already attempting to interfere “in the U.S. in 2018” ahead of congressional midterm elections as it did in the 2016 general election, he said.
“I don’t know if to say we are better prepared, because the Russians will adapt as well,” Tillerson said in an exclusive interview with Fox News in Bogota, Colombia.
“The point is, if it’s their intention to interfere, they are going to find ways to do that. We can take steps to prevent it, but this is something that, once they decide they are going to do it, it’s very difficult to preempt it.
“I think it’s important we just continue to say to Russia, ‘Look, you think we don’t see what you’re doing. We do see it and you need to stop. If you don’t, you’re going to just continue to invite consequences for yourself,’” said Tillerson.
The secretary also condemned the Russian government’s activities in Syria which is in support of the Assad regime as it kills civilians with chemical and conventional weapons.
“They are supporting the Assad regime; they are providing the air cover for the regime. Russia is responsible, they agreed that they would take care of the chemical weapons in Syria, clearly they failed to do that,” said Tillerson.
“Russia really needs to move to a different place on this, and they can deny it all they want to, but facts are facts and they need to go to another spot.”
Tillerson also said that U.S. Vice President Mike Pence would attend the opening of the Olympics this week in South Korea, but not clear if the Trump administration would speak with North Korean officials there.
When asked whether the U.S. would initiate those conversations, Tillerson said, “the vice president is there and we’ll just have to see what happens.”
The secretary, when asked, also had a message for those in the White House pushing for his departure: “I’m still here. Nothing has changed.”
When asked whether he believed members of the administration are still advocating that the president replaces him, the secretary replied, “I have no idea.”
