Trump pressured over bounties to kill U.S. troops

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday came under growing pressure to respond to allegations that Russia offered bounties for killing American troops in Afghanistan, with Democrats demanding answers and accusing Trump of bowing to Russian President Vladimir Putin at the risk of U.S. soldiers’ lives.

Frustrated House Democrats returning from a briefing at the White House said they learned nothing new about American intelligence assessments that suggested Russia was making overtures to militants as the U.S. and the Taliban held talks to end the conflict in Afghanistan. Senate Republicans who attended a separate briefing largely defended the president, arguing along with the White House that the intelligence was unverified.

The intelligence assessments were first reported by The New

York Times, then confirmed to

The Associated Press by American intelligence officials and others with knowledge of the matter.

White House press secretary Kayleigh Mcenany said Tuesday that Trump had been briefed on the intelligence, a day after saying he hadn’t because it had not been verified.

Mcenany added that there were still reservations within the intelligence community on the veracity of the allegations.

“Make no mistake. This president will always protect American troops,” she said.

The White House was working to schedule a briefing for Wednesday with Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the top Republicans and Democrats on the two intelligence committees, according to a person familiar with the talks.

The person declined to be identified because the so-called Gang of 8 briefing will be classified.

That group receives the most sensitive information in regular meetings with administration officials.