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US-POLITICS-VOTE-RUSSIA-GERMANY-INTELLIGENCE-LEAD
Russia meddling in US election to boost Trump, lawmakers told
WASHINGTON, Feb 21, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Russia is interfering in the 2020
campaign to try to get Donald Trump re-elected, US intelligence officials
have warned lawmakers in a briefing that infuriated the president, who then
replaced his intelligence chief, US media reported.
Trump erupted in anger at acting director of national intelligence (DNI)
Joseph Maguire when he learned of the February 13 session with the House
Intelligence Committee, The Washington Post and New York Times said Thursday.
Maguire aide Shelby Pierson reportedly told lawmakers Russia was once again
meddling in the US election on Trump’s behalf.
Trump complained that the Democrats would use the information against him,
the reports said.
The president was also annoyed by the presence of Adam Schiff, the
Democratic head of the investigation that led to Trump being impeached for
abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, according to the New York Times.
Maguire had been a favorite to be nominated for the permanent DNI post but
Trump soured on the official, The Washington Post said, when he heard about
the classified election security briefing.
The president berated Maguire in an Oval Office showdown last week for the
“disloyalty” of his staff, the Post reported, effectively thwarting his
chances of becoming a permanent hire.
Trump announced on Wednesday he was replacing Maguire with Richard
Grenell, 53, the ambassador to Germany and a Trump loyalist.
The president was impeached in December over accusations that he tried to
coerce ally Ukraine into helping him win the 2020 election, withholding
military aid considered vital to the former Soviet republic in its war with
Russia.
Democratic congressman Bennie Thompson said that by firing Maguire over
the briefing “the president is not only refusing to defend against foreign
interference, he’s inviting it.”
Schiff tweeted late Thursday that if Trump was interfering in the sharing
of intelligence information with Congress, it appeared that he was “again
jeopardizing our efforts to stop foreign meddling.”
US intelligence concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election,
especially through manipulation of social media, to support Trump.
The real estate tycoon-turned-president has however repeatedly called it a
“Russia hoax” and has instead promoted a debunked conspiracy theory that
Ukraine intervened instead.
– Trump defender –
Trump has been at odds with much of the national security establishment
since he took office and claims, without providing evidence, that a “deep
state” is working against him.
Since he was acquitted by the Republican-led Senate, an emboldened Trump
has been purging the Justice Department, National Security Council and
Pentagon of staff he considers disloyal.
Casualties have included NSC staffer Lieutenant Colonel Alex Vindman and
EU ambassador Gordon Sondland — both key witnesses in the impeachment
inquiry — Vindman’s twin brother, an NSC lawyer who wasn’t involved, and
Pentagon policy chief John Rood.
Democrats have voiced outrage over the appointment of Grenell, who has no
relevant background or top-level management experience for the post in which
he will supervise 17 agencies, including the CIA.
“He is committed to a non-political, non-partisan approach as head of the
Intelligence Community, on which our safety and security depend,” White House
press secretary Stephanie Grisham said in a statement Thursday.
Grenell said on Twitter he would not serve permanently and that Trump
would “soon” select someone else.
– ‘Unquestioning obedience’ –
Trump has declined to hire a permanent replacement for Dan Coats, who
stepped down as DNI in August after standing firm on the intelligence
community’s conclusion that Russia interfered in 2016 to back Trump over
Hillary Clinton.
Grenell has previously cast doubt on the extent of Russia’s efforts, saying
that Moscow’s activities were nothing new.
Senator Ron Wyden, a Democrat on the intelligence committee, accused Trump
of prioritizing “unquestioning obedience over the safety of the American
people.”
Grenell has cheered on the rise of right-wing populists in Europe,
including hailing Austria’s ultra-conservative chancellor, Sebastian Kurz, as
a “rock star.”
He has been unusually outspoken for an ambassador in criticizing the
country where he serves, including warning German companies over Twitter to
comply with Trump’s orders not to do business in Iran.
Ned Price, a former aide to president Barack Obama, said Trump “has
dropped the charade that he has any use for intelligence.”
“He has just named the most political — and abrasive — US ambassador to
what it supposed to be the least political — and undoubtedly delicate —
role,” he wrote on Twitter.
BSS/AFP/RY/1555 hrs