White House Backs Treasury View that Putin Is Corrupt

A U.S. Treasury official's assessment that Russian President Vladimir Putin is corrupt "best reflects the administration's view".

White House spokesman Josh Earnest told it to reporters at a daily briefing on Thursday, according to Reuters.

Earlier this week, the BBC reported that Adam Szubin, acting Treasury secretary for terrorism and financial crimes, said in an interview the United States considers Putin corrupt, Reuters wrote.

"We've seen him enriching his friends, his close allies, and marginalising those who he doesn't view as friends using state assets. Whether that's Russia's energy wealth, whether it's other state contracts, he directs those to whom he believes will serve him and excludes those who don't. To me, that is a picture of corruption," Szubin said.

The Kremlin later described the remarks as an "official accusation."