2016 ELECTION/CYBERWAR/INTELLIGENCE/RUSSIA/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The top U.S. intelligence official said on Tuesday [3-6-18] President Donald Trump’s administration is ‘actively engaged’ in efforts to prevent Russian efforts to influence the November midterm elections, even as he warned of Moscow’s continuing ‘malign activities.’…
Coats and other U.S. intelligence officials have warned repeatedly that Russia is already trying to interfere in the 2018 elections by using social media to spread propaganda and misleading reports, much as it did during the 2016 campaign…
U.S. intelligence agencies determined that Russia sought to influence the 2016 presidential election to boost then-Republican candidate, President Donald Trump. The finding has shadowed Trump’s first 14 months in the White House amid multiple congressional investigations and a probe by Special Counsel Robert Mueller.
Moscow denies seeking to meddle in the U.S. vote. Trump has denied collusion between his associates and Russia.
Lawmakers, particularly Democrats, have accused the Trump administration of doing too little to combat hacking of this year’s election, when control of the U.S. Congress is up for grabs.
Coats told the hearing the Treasury Department could announce sanctions on Russia as soon as next week…
Coats said intelligence agencies have been providing intelligence on the matter continuously to the administration.”
-Patricia Zenerle, “Top U.S. intel official says White House actively engaged on election security,” Reuters, Mar. 6, 2018 08:31am