Rouhani, Xi, Putin:
Trump International Campaign Team
(Two solidly for and one lukewarm)
Pretty darn big story as if
many of us didn’t already know or suspect.
WASHINGTON (Reuters)
- The top U.S. counterintelligence official on Friday warned that Russia, China
and Iran will all try to interfere in the 2020 presidential election, with
Russia already trying to undercut presumptive Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
Multiple reviews by U.S.
intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia acted to boost now-President
Donald Trump's 2016 campaign and undercut his rival Hillary Clinton's chances
in that election. Trump has long bristled at that finding, which Russia denies.
In an unusual public
statement, William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and
Security Center, said those countries were using online disinformation and
other means to try to influence voters, stir up disorder and undermine American
voters' confidence in the democratic process.
Foreign adversaries also may try
to interfere with U.S. election systems by trying to sabotage the voting process,
stealing election data, or calling into question the validity of election
results.
Evanina insisted by saying: “It
would be difficult for our adversaries to interfere with or manipulate voting
results at scale.” He then warned that Russia is already going after former
Vice President Joe Biden and what “… it regards as an anti-Russia U.S. establishment.”
Evanina said Andriy Derkach,
a pro-Russia Ukrainian politician: “Has been spreading claims about corruption –
including through publicized leaked phone calls to undermine Biden's campaign
and the Democratic Party.”
Meanwhile, Trump supporters in the Senate have
launched investigations questioning Biden's son Hunter's involvement in alleged
business activities in Ukraine.
Evanina further said: “Kremlin-linked
actors also are trying to boost President Trump's candidacy via social media
and Russian television.”
He then said his agency
assessed that China would prefer that Trump not win re-election, because
Beijing regards him as too unpredictable.
He also said China has been
expanding efforts to influence U.S. politics ahead of the November election to
try to shape U.S. policy, exert pressure on U.S. politicians it regards as
anti-China, and deflect criticism of China.
Evanina added: “Iran is
likely to use online tactics such as spreading disinformation to discredit U.S.
institutions and President Trump and to stir up U.S. voters' discontent.”
The leaders of the Senate
Intelligence Committee, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) thanked
Evanina for his warning in a joint statement: “All Americans should endeavor to
prevent outside actors from being able to interfere in our elections, influence
our politics, and undermine confidence in our democratic institutions.”
Meanwhile and right on cue, Tim
Murtaugh, a spokesman for Trump's re-election campaign, insisted that Trump has
been “tougher on Russia than any administration in history.”
Note: That is the standard Trump line — peddle more BS statements and except
them to stick for his benefit about being tough on Russia – which by all accounts
clearly show he is not.
Murtaugh added: “We don’t
need or want foreign interference, and President Trump will beat Joe Biden fair
and square.”
This will be an unusual year
for U.S. voters. The coronavirus pandemic is expected to result in many more
voters than usual casting ballots by mail, which could mean it will take longer
to learn who won.
And, as we all know, Trump has been attacking the idea of
voting by mail, saying despite research to the contrary that it is likely to
result in fraud.
My 2 cents: This story stands alone and as far as slow USPS – also, here one of my earlier posts related to that very subject.
This supports the
Mueller report on 2016 and Putin’s crap – anyone still doubt that?
Thanks for stopping by.
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