Hatch slams 'weak' Obama over Russia-Snowden incident

Out of Context by Tribune Political Reporters

Published: June 25, 2013 1:32 pm
This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Sen. Orrin Hatch weighed in Tuesday on the refusal of Russia to hand over NSA leaker Edward Snowden despite pressure from the United States that the country must extradite him back to America. But Hatch says it's Obama's fault.

"It's an insult to us and I have to say that this would not have happened under [President Ronald] Reagan; this would not have happened under [President George] Herbert Walker Bush; it would not have happened under [President Bill] Clinton and it would not have happened under [President] George W. Bush," Hatch said off the Senate floor.

"I have to say they know our president is weak," the Utah Republican added. "I'm one who likes the president but they know he's weak. They know he's so fearful in getting involved in balance of power, foreign affairs [issues], and they're playing on it and they're enjoying it."

— Thomas Burr@thomaswburr

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