HICKS: OK, I TELL SOME ‘WHITE LIES’
Intel big: Trump not letting me stop Russia
ONE OF THE country’s top intelligence chiefs told lawmakers on Tuesday that President Trump has not given him the authority to disrupt Russian cyberattacks.
National Security Agency director Adm. Mike Rogers admitted that Trump has yet to issue any policy directives that would steer resources toward confronting Russian attempts to interfere with this year’s midterm elections.
“I haven’t been granted any additional authorities,” Rogers (photo) told the Senate Armed Services Committee, noting that it would be up to the President to authorize any action.
“I need a policy decision that indicates there is specific direction to do that,” he added.
Trump has faced criticism for not taking the threat of Russian meddling seriously and downplaying the Kremlin’s role in the 2016 presidential contest.
The White House pushed back when questioned about Rogers’ comments.
“Nobody is denying him the authority,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said. “We’re looking at a number of different ways where we can put pressure (on Russia).”
The White House, without citing evidence, has attempted to paint Trump as “tough” on Russia in the wake of the indictment of 13 Russian nationals by special counsel Robert Mueller for their role trying to influence American voters.
But Trump has dragged his feet on imposing sanctions against Russians that were approved by Congress last year and has called for
warmer relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Democrats on Tuesday latched on to Rogers’ comments as evidence that the White House has not done enough to prevent future attacks.
“Essentially, we have not taken on the Russians yet,” said Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the ranking member, who accused the administration of “sitting back and waiting.”
Rogers, without outright criticizing Trump, called out the administration for letting Russia off easy.
“They haven’t paid a price, at least, that has significantly changed their behavior,” Rogers said. Rogers and other top national security officials told lawmakers earlier this month that they still see Moscow as a threat to the midterm elections. HOPE HICKS, President Trump’s communications director, admitted that she tells “white lies” for the White House, during a nine-hour closed-door interview be-e fore the House Intelligence Committee. She served as Trump’s spokeswoman during his 2016 campaign, but refused to talk to lawmakers about any events that occurred after Inauguration Day. “There are some questions that she’s not going to answer,” Rep. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) said. Hicks (photo) was interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller’s team of investigators over two days in December.