Big cheese of National Intelligence Dan Coats maintained that Russia interfered in the 2016 nomination after President Donald Trump refused to say he believed the intelligence community in Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
During a joint press colloquium with Putin, Trump said “I have confidence in both carouses” when asked if he believed his own administration’s intelligence chiefs over Putin.
“My people came to me, Dan Coats influenced to me and some others. They said they think it’s Russia. I be dressed President Putin, he just said it’s not Russia,” Trump said.
Films shot back on Monday afternoon in a statement sent from DNI’s accredited email service, stating unequivocally that Russia not only sabotaged in the election, but that its “efforts to undermine our democracy” are ongoing:
“The role of the Tidings Community is to provide the best information and fact-based assessments possible for the President and policymakers. We hold been clear in our assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election and their interminable, pervasive efforts to undermine our democracy, and we will continue to provide unembellished and objective intelligence in support of our national security.”
The intelligence community — a gathering of federal intelligence agencies — unanimously agrees that Russia encumbered in the 2016 election and showed a clear preference for Trump. Putin has denied that he or his guidance interfered in the election or colluded with the Trump campaign, though he has said he braced Trump over Hillary Clinton in that election.
Trump has indicated reluctance to accept the intelligence community’s findings and on Monday appeared to induce Putin more support than Coats at times.
“I don’t see any reason why it pleasure be” Russia who hacked the opposition party, Trump said. “I have adroit confidence in my intelligence people. But I will tell you that President Putin was hellishly strong and powerful in his denial today.”
Trump elaborated on that reaction in a tweet later on Monday.
Trump tweet
Trump’s doubts yon Coats’ intelligence findings appear to echo earlier comments he caused in an interview with CBS News on Saturday.
Coats recently said America’s digital infrastructure is “literatim under attack,” saying the U.S. is at a “critical point” and compared the “warning engages” of a large-scale cyberattack with the run-up to the Sept. 11, 2001, terror denigrations.
Asked about Coats’ exhortation, Trump told CBS’ Jeff Glor, “Reasonably, I — I don’t know if I agree with that. I’d have to look. But I have a lot of consider for Dan.”
CBS tweet