Trump's Russia Meeting Puts National Security at Risk: Rep. Swalwell

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) says American lives could be at risk if Russian officials gained highly classified information from President Trump.

Trump gave information about Islamic State militants to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during a White House meeting last week, according to reports from the Washington Post and other news organizations.

Current and former U.S. officials told the Post the information shared with the two Russian diplomats "jeopardized a critical source of intelligence" on ISIS.

"This is a meeting that should never have taken place in the first place," Swalwell, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, told KQED early Tuesday.

"Russia attacked our democracy. They don't have any business being in the Oval Office. He (Trump) shouldn't exchange anything more than pleasantries, let alone intelligence," Swalwell said.

Swalwell plans to attend a House Intelligence Committee hearing Tuesday night.

"We regularly meet to discuss ongoing intelligence activities but I and others will be seeking to find out just what has been compromised by the president sharing, what's been alleged to have been shared with the Russians," he said.

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough) also sits on the House Intelligence Committee.

Speier's spokeswoman, Tracy Manzer, told KQED in an email that the congresswoman was planning on attending Tuesday's committee meeting.

But Manzer noted the gathering was classified "so she can't divulge what is discussed."

Trump defended his White House meeting in a series of tweets Tuesday morning.

"As President I wanted to share with Russia (at an openly scheduled W.H. meeting) which I have the absolute right to do, facts pertaining ... to terrorism and airline flight safety," Trump said. "Humanitarian reasons, plus I want Russia to greatly step up their fight against ISIS and terrorism."

Swalwell said Trump's social media posts confirmed his concerns.

"His tweets this morning seem to be an acknowledgement that he has done what we have all feared, which has drawn us closer to a foreign adversary who does not have our best interest in mind," he said.

Reports of the meeting prompted Swalwell and other local House Democrats to renew calls to create a bipartisan-appointed independent commission to investigate Trump's ties to Russia.