Do the Russians have leverage over DonaldTrump? [View all]
Appearing on CBS, Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway described concern about Russian interference with the U.S. election as lacking evidence and claimed that President Obama’s vow to retaliate against Russia is “political.”
Trump himself has publicly and repeatedly cast doubt on the intelligence community’s conclusions that Russia initiated hacks designed to damage Hillary Clinton.
“Earlier this week, I met separately with FBI [Director] James Comey and DNI [Director] Jim Clapper, and there is strong consensus among us on the scope, nature, and intent of Russian interference in our presidential election,” CIA Director John Brennan wrote to agency employees.
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Appearing directly after Conway, Washington Post reporter David Ignatius expressed alarm that Trump’s disinterest in Russian interference posed a grave danger to U.S. interests. Specifically, the country will not be able to determine “whether there is any kind of leverage the Russian government has over Donald Trump.”
Ignatius said it is “crucial” that information be collected before Trump takes office, “not to attack him but to liberate him.”
Ignatius noted that Trump’s refusal the release his tax returns, as every other modern Presidential nominee has done, further complicated the process of determining possible Russian influence over Trump.
https://thinkprogress.org/do-the-russians-have-leverage-over-donald-trump-59dfd37694ca#.nlf3tnv79
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