Senate unanimously votes to protect US officials from Russian interrogation

The US Senate has voted unanimously to oppose Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer to interrogate of American officials.

Chief among them was former US Ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul, who had served under Barack Obama and tweeted after the vote: “98-0. Bipartisanship is not dead yet in the US Senate. Thank you all for your support”.

During a joint press conference with Mr Trump after the pair’s summit in Helsinki, Finland, Mr Putin said he would allow special counsel Robert Mueller’s team to travel to Russia and attend the questioning 12 Russians indicted for interfering in the 2016 US election if Mr Trump agreed to allow the Kremlin to question Americans “who have something to do with illegal actions in the territory of Russia.”

Mr Mueller and his FBI team are continuing to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 US election as well as alleged collusion between members of Mr Trump’s campaign team and Russian officials.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the president was discussing the possibility of Russian investigators being allowed to come into the US and question former diplomats, like Mr McFaul and Bill Browder, an American-born and UK financier.

Mr Browder’s company Hermitage Capital Management once held a large portfolio of investments in Russia, was blocked from entering the country in 2005. He said it was because he exposed corruption and his lawyer was killed as a result.

Mr Browder recently lobbied for US sanctions against Russia for allegedly violating human rights law.

"One of the most stunning things about the summit was the president's openness to a request by President Putin to question former United States Ambassador to Moscow Michael McFaul and other Americans," said Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer who along with Senators Bob Menendez and Brian Schatz, introduced the resolution.

However, just before the vote took place, Ms Sanders walked back the comment, saying, though the suggestion was made “in sincerity by President Putin...President Trump disagrees with it.”

"Hopefully President Putin will have the 12 identified Russians come to the United States to prove their innocence or guilt,” Ms Sanders said.

The resolution stated that no political appointee, ambassador, diplomat, law enforcement officer, civil servant, or member of the US military should be open to interrogation by Moscow.

Mr Schumer called on the president to publicly “say once and for all not through his spokespeople that the lopsided disgraceful trade he called an 'incredible offer' is now off the table.”

Ms Sanders announced after the vote the White House is in talks to host Mr Putin in Washington later this year.