President Trump tweeted Friday a photograph of Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer having a drink with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling the New York Democrat a “total hypocrite.”
Mr. Trump sent out the tweet the day after Mr. Schumer demanded a special prosecutor or independent counsel to investigate an alleged Trump campaign conspiracy with Russian spies during the presidential race.
“We should start an immediate investigation into @SenSchumer and his ties to Russia and Putin. A total hypocrite!” Mr. Trump said in the tweet.
The photograph shows Mr. Schumer and Mr. Putin smiling and holding what appear to be cups of coffee and doughnuts.
Mr. Schumer retweeted the photo with a response about his meeting with Mr. Putin occurring in public.
“Happily talk re: my contact w Mr. Putin & his associates, took place in ’03 in full view of press & public under oath. Would you &your team?” he tweeted.
Accusations of ties to Russian intelligence agents have dogged Mr. Trump since the campaign, despite no evidence presented that implicates the president or his team in Russian interference with the U.S. presidential election.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself Thursday from the Justice Department investigation into Russian meddling in the election, citing his prominent role in the Trump campaign as a potentially giving the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Mr. Sessions came under fire this week for failing to disclose at his confirmation hearing that he had met in his capacity as a U.S. senator with the Russian ambassador during the campaign.
Capitol Hill Democrats, including Mr. Schumer, have called on Mr. Sessions to resign over the Russian contact and failure to disclose it.
• S.A. Miller can be reached at smiller@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.