Joe Biden warns of Russia, China election meddling after receiving intelligence briefings

The presumptive Democratic presidential nominee told supports at an online fundraising campaign that Russians were trying to ‘delegitimise’ the election

China also was conducting activities ‘designed for us to lose confidence in the outcome’ he said, warning there would be a ‘price to pay’ for interference

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Democratic presidential candidate and former Vice-President Joe Biden attends a Sunday service at a church in Delaware. Photo: AP

Published: 12:16pm, 18 Jul 2020Updated: 7:12am, 17 Oct 2020

Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is now getting intelligence briefings, and said he has been told Russia continues to try to meddle in November’s US election.

China also was conducting activities “designed for us to lose confidence in the outcome” of the 2020 election, Biden told supporters on Friday during an online fundraiser for his campaign.

“We know from before, and I guarantee you that I know now, because now I get briefings again. The Russians are still engaged in trying to delegitimize our electoral process. Fact,” Biden said.

He warned that if Russia continued to interfere there would be “a real price to pay” if he wins the November election against Republican President Donald Trump.

US President Donald Trump in the Rose Garden of the White House this week. Photo: AFP

It is unclear when Biden began receiving the intelligence briefings, which are normal for major party presidential nominees.

Biden said at a June 30 press conference he had not been offered a classified briefing and “may very well” ask for one in the aftermath of reports Trump did not act on intelligence reports that Russia had put bounties on US troops in Afghanistan.