Russia trying to get Trump re-elected, US intelligence officers say
- Officials told lawmakers about interference in closed-door briefing last week, according to New York Times article
- Trump reportedly angered by disclosure, saying Democrats would use information against him
Intelligence officials say Russia is interfering with the 2020 election to try to help US President Donald Trump get re-elected, The New York Times reported on Thursday.
The newspaper said intelligence officials told lawmakers about the interference in a February 13 closed-door briefing to the House Intelligence Committee.
It said the disclosure angered Trump, who complained the Democrats would use the information against him. He berated the outgoing director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, the next day.
The Times attributed the report to five unidentified people familiar with the matter. Associated Press could not immediately confirm the account.
US intelligence agencies say Russia interfered in the 2016 election through social media campaigns and stealing and distributing emails from Democratic accounts.
They say Russia was trying to boost Trump’s campaign and add chaos to the American political process. Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded that Russian interference was “sweeping and systematic”, but he did not find a criminal conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign. Trump has doubted the findings of Russian interference.