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Leon Panetta takes Donald Trump to task for Russia hacking comments at DNC

By Eric DuVall
Former secretary of defense Leon Panetta addresses the delegates during Day Three of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. He criticized Doald Trump for calling on Russia to hack the United States. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI
Former secretary of defense Leon Panetta addresses the delegates during Day Three of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. He criticized Doald Trump for calling on Russia to hack the United States. Photo by Pat Benic/UPI | License Photo

PHILADELPHIA, July 27 (UPI) -- Former CIA director and defense secretary Leon Panetta took Donald Trump to task at the Democratic National Convention for his remarks earlier Wednesday, suggesting Russia should hack into U.S. servers to retrieve emails deleted by Hillary Clinton.

Panetta said Trump's comments were "inconceivable" for the intelligence community and national security experts.

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"Donald Trump, today, once again took Russia's side. He asked the Russians to interfere in American politics. Think about that. Think about that for a moment. Donald Trump, who wants to be president of the United States, to engage in hacking or intelligence efforts against the United States of America to affect an election," he said. "It is inconceivable to me that any presidential candidate would be that irresponsible. I say this out of a firm concern for the future of my children and my grandchildren. Donald Trump cannot become our commander-in-chief."

Panetta's comments were not met with round applause inside the convention hall as some liberal delegates began chanting "No More War" and others responded with chants of "U.S.A.! U.S.A.!"

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Panetta said Democratic nominee Clinton has displayed the kind of leadership needed to serve as the military's commander-in-chief.

"Meanwhile, Donald Trump says he gets his foreign policy experience from watching TV and running the Miss Universe pageant. If only it were funny, but it is deadly serious," Panetta said.

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