Intelligence Report Will Forever Hang Over Trump’s Presidency, but Russia Is Just Getting Started
The Director of National Intelligence Friday afternoon released a 25-page report on Russia’s hacking in the United States, concluding that Vladimir Putin ordered an “influence campaign” and had a “clear preference” for Donald Trump to be elected president. The report is a declassified version of the 50+ page report the Director used to brief President Barack Obama on Thursday and President-elect Donald Trump Friday afternoon.
“Russia’s goals were to undermine public faith in the US democratic process, denigrate Secretary [Hillary] Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency,” the report concludes.
“We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump,†the report, the culmination of months of intelligence gathering.
“We also assess Putin and the Russian Government aspired to help President-elect Trump’s election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him. All three agencies agree with this judgment. CIA and FBI have high confidence in this judgment; NSA has moderate confidence.”
The report continues, stating Russia thought, near the end of the presidential race, that Trump would lose.
“When it appeared to Moscow that Secretary Clinton was likely to win the election, the Russian influence campaign then focused on undermining her expected presidency.”
It also makes clear that the Russian government, including President Putin, see liberalism as a threat to Russia.
“In trying to influence the US election, we assess the Kremlin sought to advance its longstanding desire to undermine the US-led liberal democratic order, the promotion of which Putin and other senior Russian leaders view as a threat to Russia and Putin’s regime,” the report states.
The intelligence report also makes clear the election of Donald Trump was just the beginning, not the end of Russia’s intervention in the U.S.
“We assess Russian intelligence services will continue to develop capabilities to provide Putin with options to use against the United States, judging from past practice and current efforts.”
“Immediately after Election Day, we assess Russian intelligence began a spearphishing campaign targeting US Government employees and individuals associated with US think tanks and NGOs in national security, defense, and foreign policy fields. This campaign could provide material for future influence efforts as well as foreign intelligence collection on the incoming administration’s goals and plans.”
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Images:
Vladimir Putin via Kremlin/Wikimedia
Donald Trump via Michael Vadon/Wikimedia
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