Stefanik, facing backlash against her statement on Ukraine, doubles down on criticism of Biden

Stefanik calls Biden and his administration "lobbyist(s)" for Russia and the Kremlin.
Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y.
By Sophie Mann

House GOP Conference Chairwoman Elise Stefanik is facing backlash for her condemnation of President Biden and his efforts ahead of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, calling the Democrat president a "weak, feckless and unfit" leader who makes the world "less safe." 

The New York congresswoman pointed to what she considers the Biden administration's failures on a number of national security issues, including cyber attacks and the bloody withdrawal from Afghanistan.

"Our adversaries around the world have been assessing and measuring Joe Biden's leadership on the world stage, and he has abysmally failed on every metric," she said.

ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl said of the fiery statement that Stefanik prefers to "spend more time attacking the American president than Vladimir Putin."

Stefanik, in her statement following the invasion, also called Putin a "gutless, bloodthirsty, authoritarian dictator."

Former GOP Rep. Barbara Comstock joined in on the criticism of her former colleague, calling Stefanik's statement "absolutely disgraceful and childish."

Stefanik responded to her critics, telling Just the News, "The mainstream media Democrat stenographers and Russia hoaxers want more? Just one month ago, President Biden and his administration served as Putin and the Kremlin’s lobbyist when they lobbied AGAINST the GOP’s Russia sanctions bill."