Sen. Cornyn: Putin DC Visit Should Be Put 'on Back Burner'

The Senate's No. 2 Republican on Monday cautioned President Donald Trump against holding a second meeting with Russia's Valdimir Putin.

"I'm one who thinks that it's a good thing for leaders of countries to talk, but I would consider putting that one on the back burner for a while," Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said in answer to questions about the White House plans to invite Putin to the United States, The Hill reported.

Cornyn, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said he thought the potential meeting should be sidelined "for a while."

GOP senators have not been enthusiastic about a second meeting in the wake of the leaders' first summit that provoked a firestorm of criticism for Trump's refusal to condemn Moscow's meddling in the 2016 election.

"I don't particularly want to see a grand ceremony for Putin, but I don't have any problem with the two leaders sitting down and hopefully having a better discourse than they've had until now," Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, said, adding he had "mixed emotions" about a second sit-down, The Hill reported.

Hatch also said he hopes Trump "rethinks" the comments he made after the summit in Helsinki, Finland.

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