“Why have you decided the Russian authorities, myself included, gave anybody permission to do this?” Putin asked in the often-combative interview with NBC television.
“We in Russia cannot prosecute anyone as long as they have not violated Russian law. … At least send us a piece of paper. … Give us a document. Give us an official request. And we’ll take a look at it.”
America’s leading intelligence agencies concluded last year that Putin himself had directed a broad intelligence effort to influence the U.S. election to undermine Clinton’s campaign and boost Trump’s chances. Trump has repeatedly denied colluding with Moscow.
The Russian leader also rejected those assessments.
“Could anyone really believe that Russia, thousands of miles away … influenced the outcome of the election? Doesn’t that sound ridiculous even to you?” Putin asked.
“It’s not our goal to interfere. We do not see what goal we would accomplish by interfering. There’s no goal,” Putin said.
Trump has repeatedly shied away from condemning Russia over the alleged meddling.
U.S. intelligence chiefs last month said Russian attempts to meddle in U.S. politics are continuing unabated — and pose a threat to midterm congressional elections in November.
