Kremlin denies 2020 US election meddling
THE Kremlin yesterday denied Russia was interfering in the 2020 US presidential campaign to boost President Donald Trump’s re-election chances following reports that American intelligence officials warned the US congress about the election threat last week.
US intelligence officials told members of the house of representatives intelligence committee in a classified briefing last week that Russia was again interfering in American politics ahead of November’s election, a person familiar with the discussion said.
Trump has since ousted the acting intelligence chief, replacing him this week with a political loyalist in an abrupt move as Democrats and former US officials raised the alarm over national security concerns.
On Twitter, the Republican president accused Democrats in congress of launching a misinformation campaign “saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates”. Trump called it a “hoax”.
US officials have long warned that Russia and other countries would seek to interfere in the November 3 presidential election, following Russia’s meddling in the 2016 campaign that ended with Trump’s surprise victory over Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
US intelligence agencies concluded that the Kremlin used disinformation operations, cyberattacks and other methods in its 2016 operation to boost Trump, an allegation Russia denies. Trump, sensitive to doubts over the legitimacy of his win, has also questioned that finding and repeatedly criticised American intelligence agencies.
“These are more paranoid announcements which, to our regret, will multiply as we get closer to the election,” said Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov. “They have nothing to do with the truth.” |