Former President Jimmy Carter said Friday he believes Donald Trump would have lost the 2016 election without Russian help.
“There’s no doubt that the Russians did interfere in the election and I think the interference, although not yet quantified, if fully investigated, would show that Trump didn’t actually win the election in 2016,” said Carter. “He lost the election and he was put in office because the Russians interfered on his behalf.”
Carter was speaking in Leesburg, Va., at a panel discussion on human rights hosted by the Carter Center.
Carter was then asked by moderator Jon Meacham, a historian, if Trump was an illegitimate president.
“Based on what I said, which I can’t retract,” responded Carter, smiling.
Carter said Trump “himself should condemn it, admit that it happened, which I think 16 of the intelligence agencies have already agreed to say.”
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