Trump and Putin express anger over Helsinki criticism

The White House has rejected a proposal that Russian President Vladimir Putin had put forward for Russian investigators to interrogate perceived critics of his regime.

President Trump called the proposal, which Putin voiced in response to a question about whether he would extradite 12 Russian intelligence officer accused of hacking the 2016 presidential election, an 'incredible offer' during a joint news conference on Monday.

But those who Putin apparently wants to interrogate, including the former U.S. ambassador to to Russia Michael McFaul, and financier and British citizen William Browder, expressed astonishment at the proposal.

In a statement, the White House said Thursday that Trump 'disagrees' with Putin's proposal.

'It is a proposal that was made in sincerity by President Putin, but President Trump disagrees with it,' White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. 'Hopefully President Putin will have the 12 identified Russians come to the United States to prove their innocence or guilt.'