Russia Backs Trump's Re-Election, and He Fears Democrats Will Exploit Its Support

Written by <a href="index.php?option=com_comprofiler&task=userProfile&user=53405"><span class="small">Adam Goldman, Julian E. Barnes, Maggie Haberman and Nicholas Fandos, The New York Times</span></a>

Friday, 21 February 2020 09:34

Excerpt: "Intelligence officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia was interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get President Trump re-elected, five people familiar with the matter said, a disclosure to Congress that angered Mr. Trump, who complained that Democrats would use it against him."

American intelligence agencies concluded that Russia, on the orders of President Vladimir V. Putin, interfered in the 2016 presidential election. (photo: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP)

Russia Backs Trump's Re-Election, and He Fears Democrats Will Exploit Its Support

By Adam Goldman, Julian E. Barnes, Maggie Haberman and Nicholas Fandos, The New York Times

21 February 20

A classified briefing to House members is said to have angered the president, who complained that Democrats would �weaponize� the disclosure.

ntelligence officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia was interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get President Trump re-elected, five people familiar with the matter said, a disclosure to Congress that angered Mr. Trump, who complained that Democrats would use it against him.

The day after the Feb. 13 briefing to lawmakers, the president berated Joseph Maguire, the outgoing acting director of national intelligence, for allowing it to take place, people familiar with the exchange said. Mr. Trump was particularly irritated that Representative Adam B. Schiff, Democrat of California and the leader of the impeachment proceedings, was at the briefing.

During the briefing to the House Intelligence Committee, Mr. Trump�s allies challenged the conclusions, arguing that he had been tough on Russia and that he had strengthened European security.

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