U.S. Intel Leaders Resolute on Russian Hacking

Top United States intelligence officials on Thursday defended the intelligence agencies’ findings on Russian hacking and interference in the election, pushing back at the public criticism leveled by President-elect Donald Trump against the Intelligence Community (IC) and noting the rhetoric has raised concerns among allies.

At Thursday’s Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on foreign cyber threats, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said the IC stands even “more resolutely” behind its October statement officially accusing Russia of interfering with the U.S. election process and that such action could only have been authorized at the highest levels. The Kremlin waged a “multifaceted campaign” of hacking, classical propaganda, disinformation and fake news during the 2016 election, and that continues today, Clapper noted.

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