Russian meddling continues, intel chiefs say
NSA head describes efforts as 'pervasive'
WASHINGTON — Three of the nation’s top intelligence officials confirmed Tuesday that they have seen evidence of Russian meddling in the upcoming midterm elections, part of what they say is Moscow’s escalating cyber assault on American and European democracies.
“We have seen Russian activity and intentions to have an impact on the next election cycle,” CIA Director Mike Pompeo told the Senate intelligence committee.
National Intelligence Director Dan Coats and Adm. Mike Rogers, the head of the National Security Agency, agreed that Russia’s interference is continuing. “This is not going to change or stop,” Rogers said.
They didn’t describe the activity, other than to say it was related to information warfare.
“This is pervasive,” Coats said. “The Russians have a strategy that goes well beyond what is happening in the United States. While they have historically tried to do these types of things, clearly in 2016 they upped their game.”
U.S. intelligence concluded Moscow interfered in the 2016 presidential election, which has led to the current FBI investigation into possible Trump campaign connections. Russia denies the allegations and President Donald Trump has called the FBI probe a witch hunt.
It’s unclear what the U.S. is doing covertly to battle back.
But Coats acknowledged that the U.S. is “behind the curve” in coming up with policies to penalize those who hack America’s critical infrastructure, interfere with elections, undermine the government or hit financial institutions.
Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, said he thinks the American people are better prepared to deal with Russian influence campaigns in the upcoming midterms and beyond. They have started to look askance at social media and attempts to influence their opinion, he said.
“The American people are smart people,” Risch said.