Mike Pence Just Lied About Russia. Bigly. Because of Course He Did.
When The Vice President Lies to Support the President’s EgoÂ
Vice President Mike Pence just lied about Russia’s actions during the 2016 presidential campaign and about the unanimous consensus by all 17 of America’s intelligence agencies and offices. It’s a big lie, it’s an important one, it’s one that needs to be corrected, and fast.
Speaking at an event hosted by Axios on Wednesday, the Vice President grossly mischaracterized the conclusions of U.S. intelligence.
“Well, the first thing that we all agree is,” Pence said, according to Axios, “irrespective of efforts that were made in 2016 by foreign powers — it is the universal conclusion of our intelligence communities that none of those efforts had any impact on the outcome of the 2016 election.”
That’s a lie, and the Vice President has to know it is.
The truth is the U.S. intelligence agencies “did not make an assessment of the impact that Russian activities had on the outcome of the 2016 election.” None. At all.Â
Trump’s CIA Director, Mike Pompeo, made a similar false claim last year and the CIA had to issue an immediate retraction.
President-elect Trump, days before the inauguration, also peddled a similar lie.
Today, there was quick and necessary backlash to Pence’s lie:
CNN’s Marshall Cohen set the record straight:
PENCE at the @axios event, on Russian meddling: “It is the universal conclusion of our intelligence communities that none of those efforts had any impact on the outcome of the 2016 election.” But that’s not quite right. Here’s what the intelligence report ACTUALLY says…. pic.twitter.com/pSQZ3jQr67
— Marshall Cohen (@MarshallCohen) February 14, 2018
Others chimed in:
This is not true, @VP. The Intelligence Community purposefully opted NOT to make a conclusion on whether the Russian interference had an impact. https://t.co/M5Dr3j1Gse
— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) February 14, 2018
This is simply untrue. It’s not a determination anyone in the IC has ventured or made. https://t.co/j0anHk31Pk
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) February 14, 2018
Not true, Lying Bigot @VP Mike Pence. The Intelligence Community purposefully chose not to make a conclusion on whether the Russian interference had an impact. That’s a huge difference. #Facts https://t.co/bkpAEjlFCR
— Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) February 14, 2018
.@VP Pence says three times that the “universal conclusion” of US intelligence agencies is that Russian meddling had “no impact” on the outcome of the 2016 election.
That’s not true. The IC made *no assessment of the impact* Russian activities had on the outcome. #axios360
— Olivia Victoria Gazis (@Olivia_Gazis) February 14, 2018
This is blatantly untrue https://t.co/fJtkyozjVW
— Nathan McDermott (@natemcdermott) February 14, 2018
Greetings Mr. Pence,
Would you kindly provide documentation which states that the intelligence community has concluded that foreign influence in the 2016 presidential election did not stay the election towards any candidate?
— Rich Madrid (@Richmadrid11) February 14, 2018
Image by Alyssa Farrah via Twitter
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