RantCrush Top 5: January 18, 2017

Russian President Vladimir Putin came to President-elect Donald Trump’s defense yesterday, saying that people who spread fake news about the President-elect are “worse than prostitutes.” He also dismissed the allegations of close ties between Trump and Moscow as fake news, echoing Trump’s own words. He emphasized that Trump was not a politician when he visited Russia years ago. “Is someone really thinking that our intelligence agencies are chasing every American billionaire, or what? Of course not! It’s just a complete nonsense,” he said at a press conference in Moscow.

Someone should update Putin prostitutes are not criminals but victims of repeated sexual violence https://t.co/t9gdOmjp76

— Asaf Ronel (@AsafRonel) January 17, 2017

Putin said that the situation is a sign of “degradation of political elites” in the West, and an “acute political struggle” in the U.S. He added that he doesn’t know Trump, so he doesn’t have any reason to attack, criticize, or defend him. He also pointed out that Trump, having been involved in beauty contests and having met so many women, probably wouldn’t have chosen to see prostitutes—“although ours are undoubtedly the best in the world,” he said. Classy, Putin.

via GIPHY

Emma Von Zeipel

Emma Von Zeipel is a staff writer at Law Street Media. She is originally from one of the islands of Stockholm, Sweden. After working for Democratic Voice of Burma in Thailand, she ended up in New York City. She has a BA in journalism from Stockholm University and is passionate about human rights, good books, horses, and European chocolate. Contact Emma at EVonZeipel@LawStreetMedia.com.