Tillerson Breaks With White House, Calls Out Russia For Ex-Spy Poisoning

LIMA, PERU - 2018/02/05: The Secretary of State of the United States of America, Rex W. Tillerson gives a press conference in the framework of his visit to Peru as preamble to the Summit of the Americas to take place in Lima next April. (Photo by Fotoholica Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
LIMA, PERU - 2018/02/05: The Secretary of State of the United States of America, Rex W. Tillerson gives a press conference in the framework of his visit to Peru as preamble to the Summit of the Americas to take place... LIMA, PERU - 2018/02/05: The Secretary of State of the United States of America, Rex W. Tillerson gives a press conference in the framework of his visit to Peru as preamble to the Summit of the Americas to take place in Lima next April. (Photo by Fotoholica Press/LightRocket via Getty Images) MORE LESS
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U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson says the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal in Britain “clearly came from Russia” and “certainly will trigger a response.”

Tillerson says he doesn’t know whether Russia’s government had knowledge of the poisoning. But he is arguing the poison couldn’t have originated anywhere else. He says the substance is known to the U.S. and doesn’t exist widely. He says it’s “only in the hands of a very, very limited number of parties.”

Tillerson calls the poisoning “a really egregious act” and says it’s “almost beyond comprehension” that a state actor would use such a dangerous substance in a public place.

But he says he won’t elaborate on what response might follow.

Tillerson spoke to reporters on his aircraft as he flew from Nigeria to Washington.

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Notable Replies

  1. May I suggest a strongly-worded letter, Mr. Secretary? I’m sure the charge d’affaires in Moscow has some thoughts he could put down and hustle over to the Kremlin.

  2. Trump, in the meantime, is trying to get his hands on some of that stuff. If Sessions won’t investigate his enemies and put them in jail, other solutions may be needed. So, why not follow the lead of one of your heroes?

  3. To say that he is breaking from the White House to do what any Secretary of State should do is damming proof that Trump has sold out to the Russians.

  4. Ridiculous. No proof this event is related to anything performed by any Russian. This is more political posturing, lies and b.s. from the b.s. artist in chief Tillerson, a worthless lying coward only focused on greed and personal wealth, period, like Trump and the entire cabinet. Look at UK’s May’s similar lies and b.s., typical of her too, like Tony Blair - a monster genocidal maniac.

  5. Rex Tillerson:

    the poisoning of ex-spy Sergei Skripal in Britain “clearly came from Russia” and “certainly will trigger a response.”

    If Rex is handling the response, I think Christopher Steele better go to ground.

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