Dianne Feinstein: Putin Needs to ‘Man Up,’ Address Malaysia Airlines Attack

Melissa Quinn / July 20, 2014

Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., issued a stern warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin today, saying he should “man up” and address last week’s tragic attack on a Malaysian jetliner.

Feinstein, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, discussed Russia’s role in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 during an interview with Candy Crowley on CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“The issue is where is Putin?” Feinstein told Crowley. “I would say, ‘Putin, you have to man up. You should talk to the world. You should say, if this is a mistake, which I hope it was, say it.'”

The senator’s comments come after Secretary of State John Kerry said it is “pretty clear” Russia was involved in the attack on the Malaysia Airlines jetliner. A surface-to-air missile struck the jet Thursday, and the plane crashed in Eastern Ukraine. All 298 passengers on board were killed.