Clapper: IC stands by finding that Putin sought to undermine US election

Source: Washington Examiner | May 8, 2017 | Pete Kasperowicz

Clapper: Intel community stands by finding that Vladimir Putin sought to undermine US election

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told the Senate Monday that the intelligence community is not backing off its theory that Russia sought to undermine Hillary Clinton and boost President Trump during last year’s election, several months after it offered that assessment.

“While it’s been over four months since the issuance of the assessment, as [FBI and NSA] Directors [James] Comey and [Michael] Rogers testified … the conclusions and confidence levels reached at the time still stand,” Clapper told a Senate Judiciary subcommittee in his prepared remarks.

“That’s a testament to the quality and professionalism of the IC personnel who produced such a compelling intelligence report during a tumultuous, controversial time, under intense scrutiny, and with a very tight deadline,” he added.

Clapper said the assessment was completed by three agencies: the CIA, the FBI and the National Security Agency.

Clapper summarized the intelligence community’s findings by saying Russian President Vladimir Putin tried to erode the “faith and confidence” of U.S. voters, in an effort to “demean Secretary Clinton.” He also said Putin “sought to advantage Mr. Trump.”

The hearing was called as part of the committee’s early effort both to examine Trump’s links to Russia and Russia’s effort to help Trump, as well as leaks from the Obama administration about Trump’s alleged contacts with Russia.

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