Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump defended Russian President Vladimir Putin against accusations that he has assassinated political adversaries and journalists, responding to criticism from his rivals over his embrace of praise from the Russian leader.
"Nobody has proven that he's killed anyone.
... He's always denied it.
It's never been proven that he's killed anybody,” Trump said on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday.
“You're supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, at least in our country.
It has not been proven that he's killed reporters."
On Thursday, Putin praised Trump during a wide-ranging news conference, calling him “talented without doubt" and "brilliant."
Trump has embraced the remarks, drawing fire from critics such as Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)
, who facetiously called the alliance “a match made in heaven.”
Trump welcomed Putin's praise, citing it as proof that a Trump administration would be able to work well with the Russians.