Lawmakers were briefed that Russia is looking to help Trump win in 2020

By Dana Bash, Jeremy Herb and Jim Acosta, CNN

 

Washington (CNN)The intelligence community's top election security official delivered a briefing to lawmakers last week warning them that the intelligence community believes Russia is already taking steps to interfere in the 2020 election with the goal of helping President Donald Trump win, three sources familiar with the matter tell CNN.

 

Last week's briefing, led by election security official Shelby Pierson and first reported by The New York Times, addressed the overall picture of Russia's efforts, including hacking, weaponizing social media and attacks on election infrastructure, one of the sources said.

 

The briefers said Russia does favor Trump, but that helping Trump wasn't the only thing they were trying to do as it was also designed to raise questions about the integrity of the elections process, the source added.

 

Full story: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/20/politics/trump-russia-intelligence-2020/index.html

 

-- © Copyright CNN 2020-02-21

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Irrespective of who is president, I have always respected the office of the president. As an old soldier, you salute the rank not the person. But this guy is dangerous. What he is doing is creating a rollercoaster ride that will not stop and endanger national and world security.

 

He got into a hissy fit because the DNI head briefed Schiff, who is part of the intel committee? Am I missing something?

7 minutes ago, webfact said:

the intelligence community believes Russia is already taking steps to interfere in the 2020 election with the goal of helping President Donald Trump win, three sources familiar with the matter tell CNN.

Well it looks to me like the Democrats know full well who will win in November. As I said since 2016, it is time to stop the crushing negativity and run on some positive messages of how they can change Americans lives for the better. But no, the negativity deepened constantly up until their humiliation at the senate with the botched overthrow of Trump. So now they are in a real pickle. This is as good an excuse for losing as any I suppose. Just a bit boring listening to Russia, Russia, Russia for another 4 years.

Personally, I don't think Trump needs any help from Russia.  You have 5 Dems running, none of which can fill a high school gym, while Trump is cramming stadiums full.  This may turn out to be the most one-sided election in American history.

Edited February 20, 20206 yr by Just1Voice

17 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

Personally, I don't think Trump needs any help from Russia.  You have 5 Dems running, none of which can fill a high school gym, while Trump is cramming stadiums full.  This may turn out to be the most one-sided election in American history.

If Republican clowns like Nixon and Bush can get re elected for a second term, why could'nt a clown like Trump!

Intelligent sources "think" the Russians are planning to interfere in the 2020 Presidential elections.  

 

Wow!  What a revelation!  Who could have thought up such a clever scenario?  Probably a GS-15 or more desk jocky... ????

 

The swamp is still running the asylum!

 

Dems have no good candidates and would destroy the economy. Americans are smarter don't want our country like liberal Euro nonsense.

Trump in landslide I guarantee it.

Edited February 21, 20206 yr by bkk6060

9 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

 

Dems have no good candidates and would destroy the economy. Americans are smarter don't want our country like liberal Euro nonsense.

Trump in landslide I guarantee it.

Oh I don’t know about that how about your trumps running up the deficit ehh during good economic times ehh how about over twice the the bailout to the farm industry than Obama did for the auto industry during bad economic times ehh we aren’t stupid we see who he is and of course the russans want trump they don’t want to see America thrive 

U.S. intelligence told lawmakers of Russian bid to boost Trump re-election - source

By Jonathan Landay

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump holds a campaign rally in Phoenix, Arizona, February 19, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. intelligence officials told lawmakers last week that Russia is interfering in the 2020 election campaign by aiming to cast doubt on the integrity of the vote and boost President Donald Trump's re-election, a person familiar with the briefing said on Thursday.

 

The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the matter's sensitivity, said Trump's Republican allies on the Democratic-led House Intelligence Committee questioned the assessment presented by officials of the Office of National Intelligence last Thursday.

 

"The Republicans responded as you would expect. They went nuts," said the person. "They questioned the intelligence."

 

The briefers warned the committee in the classified briefing that Russia was working to cast doubt on the integrity of the Nov. 3 vote while at the same time boosting Trump's election to a second four-year term.

 

"They (the Russians) are favouring one candidate while they do it," said the person, adding that the briefers identified that candidate as Trump. The source declined to elaborate.

 

There was no immediate response to a request for comment from committee Republicans.

 

The New York Times reported on Thursday that a day after the briefing, Trump rebuked acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire for allowing his staff to appear before the committee. It quoted five people familiar with the matter.

 

Trump said on Wednesday he was replacing Maguire on an acting basis with Richard Grenell, a strong Trump loyalist who has served as ambassador to Germany since 2018.

 

The Times said that in reprimanding Maguire, Trump cited the presence in the briefing of Democratic Representative Adam Schiff, the intelligence panel chairman. He led the House impeachment proceedings against Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress stemming from the president's dealings with Ukraine.

 

The Republican-controlled Senate acquitted Trump of the charges last month.

 

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

The Washington Post reported that Trump rebuked Maguire in an Oval Office meeting after a Republican ally informed the president of the election security briefing.

 

Shelby Pierson, a Maguire lieutenant who oversees election security, led last week's briefing for the House committee, according to the Times.

 

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment.

 

U.S. officials have long warned that Russia and other countries would try to interfere in the 2020 U.S. presidential election campaign.

 

The U.S. intelligence community concluded that Russia used fake news, cyber attacks and other methods in an operation designed to swing the 2016 presidential election to Trump over Democrat Hillary Clinton.

 

Russia denies the allegation.

 

Trump has repeatedly questioned the finding. At a 2018 summit, he said he found Russian President Vladimir Putin's denials of Russian meddling "extremely strong and powerful."

 

Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded in a report last year that there was no conclusive evidence of coordination between Russia and the Trump campaign. Mueller was unable, however, to clear Trump of obstructing his investigation.

 

(Reporting by Jonathan Landay; Editing by Peter Cooney)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-21

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23 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

 

Dems have no good candidates and would destroy the economy. Americans are smarter don't want our country like liberal Euro nonsense.

Trump in landslide I guarantee it.

How is that in any way relevant to the topic.

 

Trump throws his toys out of his pram simply because he is told the truth.

 

A real president would try and do something about it.

Don’t fret, the protection of US Elections from foreign interference is in safe hands, Trump has appointed his chum Richard Grenell as ‘acting’ Director of National Intelligence.

 

Grenell has zero experience in anything relating to National Intelligence and as ‘Acting’ Director will not face Senate Scrutiny.

 

Just as well, he has no time for such formalities, he’s got an important job to do - Making any ‘National Intelligence’ threats to Trump disappear.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/feb/19/trump-richard-grenell-director-national-intelligence

Trump will sail home in November for reasons that are home grown. Good luck to him! ????

Foreigners weaponizing social media... hmmm. How is Russia any different showing up on social media sites and supporting a candidate than say outraged Brits taking the dem side?

 

In the past I thought it was the consensus that people from anywhere are welcome to speak their mind about American politics? Hacking? As if the dems are above trying to do the same thing. If only they could get their app running.

 

 

4 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

Foreigners weaponizing social media... hmmm. How is Russia any different showing up on social media sites and supporting a candidate than say outraged Brits taking the dem side?

 

In the past I thought it was the consensus that people from anywhere are welcome to speak their mind about American politics? Hacking? As if the dems are above trying to do the same thing. If only they could get their app running.

 

 

Wow dude sorry but foreigners have no business interfering in our elections and imo politicians who solicit such interference are traitors or at the bare minimum derelict in their oath to protect the constitution 

8 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

Foreigners weaponizing social media... hmmm. How is Russia any different showing up on social media sites and supporting a candidate than say outraged Brits taking the dem side?

 

In the past I thought it was the consensus that people from anywhere are welcome to speak their mind about American politics? Hacking? As if the dems are above trying to do the same thing. If only they could get their app running.

 

 

Because its a foreign govt doing it, not just joe public.

 

You are ok for a foreign govt to interfere in the election. Noted.

2 hours ago, webfact said:

weaponizing social media

So my cell phone is now a weapon that can electrocute me?

7 minutes ago, Tug said:

Wow dude sorry but foreigners have no business interfering in our elections and imo politicians who solicit such interference are traitors or at the bare minimum derelict in their oath to protect the constitution 

 

I am more or less laughing at the thought of Russians weaponizing social media. If that's the case pretty much every other nation on the planet weaponizes social media to work against Trump. Russia and Russians can say what they want on the internet if I am required to suffer the Australians, and British and their take on things.

 

Aren't they just being influencers? How is Greta any different weaponizing her agenda to change the USA elections?

Edited February 21, 20206 yr by Cryingdick

" The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity "------ This is what the news seems to have been dragged down to in the last few years...... "source's say" ----We hear from someone close to ??? who can not be named--etc etc.

 

.Of course the Russians want Donald Trump to win--the guy who is running sanctions on them --they wouldn't want someone who spent their honey moon in Russia speaks well of them and other similar systems (Cuba /  Venezuela )  and has a more socialist out look  to win this elections. I mean we know all this because unnamed secret sources have told us so.....................

Edited February 21, 20206 yr by sanuk711

44 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Trump will sail home in November for reasons that are home grown. Good luck to him! ????

And with russian help according to every intelligence agency.

10 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

I am more or less laughing at the thought of Russians weaponizing social media. If that's the case pretty much every other nation on the planet weaponizes social media to work against Trump. Russia and Russians can say what they want on the internet if I am required to suffer the Australians, and British and their take on things.

 

Aren't they just being influencers? How is Greta any different weaponizing her agenda to change the USA elections?

Greta isnt in govt.

5 minutes ago, sanuk711 said:

" The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity "------ This is what the news seems to have been dragged down to in the last few years...... "Sorceress say" ----We hear from someone close to ??? who can not be named--etc etc.

 

.Of course the Russians want Donald Trump to win--the guy who is running sanctions on them --they wouldn't want someone who spent their honey moon in Russia speaks well of them and other similar systems (Cuba /  Venezuela )  and has a more socialist out look  to win this elections. I mean we know all this because unnamed secret sources have told us so.....................

Funny to read this. I recently asked some Russian friends why Russia wants Trump to win the elections to such an extent that they interfere with the US elections. They burst out laughing, and said the idea is beyond lunacy. That nobody has been as hard on the Russians as Trump and that their economy is really suffering. They were at a total loss as to why this idea is repeatedly floated out, as it is complete nonsense.

 As said before. It is an excuse for dreadful election performance by you know who. And will be trotted out again in November as an easy excuse for the gullible.

 I dare one poster to offer a credible reason why Russia would want the guy who has been the hardest on them to win? Any takers?

Demos never give up, never stop flogging the dead horse

Russia denies the allegation.

 

OF course, innuendos and rumours given what has past 

giving this story legs at least for a little while, 

it's really all about selling newspapers...   tabloid fodder

28 minutes ago, 248900_1469958220 said:

Oh god....not again.....If he wins again, it will be because the Democrats are a bickering pack of idiots.

Or just possibly because he hasn't made a bad fist of the fist 3 years he has been in..........

 

Is your nom-de-plume the winning numbers for next weeks Lotto............I'm asking for the wife.......& the tree................

 

 

.

Edited February 21, 20206 yr by sanuk711

2 minutes ago, leeneeds said:

Russia denies the allegation.

 

OF course, innuendos and rumours given what has past 

giving this story legs at least for a little while, 

 

Good excuse for the dems to try to crack down on websites and social media so that only their approved messages come through. 

Just now, sanuk711 said:

Or just possibly because he hasn't made a bad fist of the first 3 years he has been in..........

 

Is your nom-de-plume the winning numbers for next weeks Lotto............I'm asking for the wife.......................

That was my prison number branded on my back when the Martians stole me, sleeping happily in my bed. I spent decades mining for a material I have no understanding of. The food was terrible and the place smells like blue vein stinky cheese.....but give the lottery a go!

15 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

I am more or less laughing at the thought of Russians weaponizing social media. If that's the case pretty much every other nation on the planet weaponizes social media to work against Trump. Russia and Russians can say what they want on the internet if I am required to suffer the Australians, and British and their take on things.

 

Aren't they just being influencers? How is Greta any different weaponizing her agenda to change the USA elections?

All US intelligence agencies have identified Russian government (not private individuals) use of misinformation / influencing efforts via mainstream social media platforms in an endeavour to support trump. trump is of course in the process of removing government officials who have called out this matter, even going as far as circumventing Congress and putting 'Yes men' in place with zero intelligence experience. Yet you & others still support this appalling individual. 

44 minutes ago, TopDeadSenter said:

I dare one poster to offer a credible reason why Russia would want the guy who has been the hardest on them to win? Any takers?

Well I will take a crack at that one. Lets start with Trump being hardest on them. Bit difficult for anyone else to do it as he is running the show and I recall he was loathe to place the sanctions, but wasn't given much option in it. Secondly, why would they want Trump in again? It seems blatantly obvious to those who aren't blind. It is way way better for Russia to have an irrational and egotistical fool at the helm of the worlds supposed greatest power than someone who can act logically and in the genuine interests of the country. I think that answers your question. You might have trouble understanding it, but the Russians don't!

9 minutes ago, leeneeds said:

Russia denies the allegation.

 

OF course, innuendos and rumours given what has past 

giving this story legs at least for a little while, 

No, its true. Thats what Russians do. Same same since Peter the Great, they are masters at it. Sow fear, confusion, disinformation...

 

Hey Boris: Leak to CNN that we want Trump to win and watch the fireworks, da?

 

Now me, of course being a deplorable, uneducated, ignorant, rascist, sexist, cultish, xenotransveganphobic who wants Amurca to be a white christian nation where women are handmaids is totally influenced by Russian facebook ads to the point that I will vote for anyone who the Russians say. Today Trump, tomorrow Vlad! 63 million Russian robots waiting for their master to order us about!