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Senators Accuse Russia Of Disrupting US Election (washingtonpost.com)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the voters-for-Vladimir dept.

An anonymous Slashdot reader quotes The Washington Post: Two senior Democratic lawmakers with access to classified intelligence on Thursday accused Russia of "making a serious and concerted effort to influence the U.S. election," a charge that appeared aimed at putting pressure on the Obama administration to confront Moscow... "At the least, this effort is intended to sow doubt about the security of our election and may well be intended to influence the outcomes," the statement said. "We believe that orders for the Russian intelligence agencies to conduct such actions could come only from very senior levels of the Russian government..."

White House officials have repeatedly insisted that they are awaiting the outcome of a formal FBI investigation, even though U.S. intelligence are said to have concluded with "high confidence" that Russia was responsible for the DNC breach and other attacks. The White House hesitation has become a source of frustration to critics, including senior members of Congress.
Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence officials are reportedly investigating whether Donald Trump's foreign policy adviser "opened up private communications with senior Russian officials -- including talks about the possible lifting of economic sanctions if the Republican nominee becomes president."

7 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. oh, yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    As if the US never tries to influence elections in many many countries. Oh, wait .. they don't matter. They are not the US.

    1. Re: oh, yes by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Not only that, but we KNOW - thanks to these hacks - that the DNC was attempting to (and arguably succeeded in) subverting the will of the people.

      Basically, they're not mad that people can subvert US elections (if they were, they'd be supporting Voter ID laws), they're mad that THEY got caught subverting the democratic process, and are now trying to deflect attention to Russia to avoid having to answer to their own crimes.

      If anything, Russia has provided a service to the US in strengthening our democratic process.

    2. Re:oh, yes by KeensMustard · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Why does everyone keep saying Russia works with Trump? I have yet to see anything along those lines other than a couple of comments from Trump about Putin.

      I suspect the payment of 12.7M by Russia to Trumps Campaign Manager Paul Manaforte and the subsequent removal of the arming of the Ukraine from the RNC platform might have something to do with it.

  2. What's wrong with this? by Bruce66423 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Meanwhile, U.S. intelligence officials are reportedly investigating whether Donald Trump's foreign policy adviser "opened up private communications with senior Russian officials -- including talks about the possible lifting of economic sanctions if the Republican nominee becomes president."

    WTF? There's no reason for the 'intelligence officials' to get involved with this, it's perfectly legal behaviour for a candidate. That it is being sprayed about is a measure of desperation of some people to stop Trump. Whilst I have sympathy with their purpose, their behaviour is deeply wrong.

    1. Re:What's wrong with this? by The+Real+Dr+John · · Score: 4, Insightful

      The US really hates it when other countries do the exact same thing that the US does all over the world every day. I just wish more people in the US would tell their representatives to stop meddling with the rest of the world, whether it is carpet bombing Afghanistan, drone strikes in Pakistan, coups in the Ukraine, aiding rebels in Syria, destroying Libya, helping the Saudis bomb Yemen, or any of the other non-productive, highly destructive regime-change activities we are involved in every day. It is all about defense contractor profits and keeping the Middle East destabilized. Just expect lots more blowback as this all continues without your input or consent.

      --
      A brain is a terrible thing to waste... Mind? That's debatable.
    2. Re:What's wrong with this? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      > So Obama should have been investigated by his own FBI over this?

      A sitting president telling a foreign leader that he will have more political manuevering room after an election is not even remotely like a candidate for president negotiating with a foreign leader against american interests.

      You want comparisons of people who got "a pass?"
      Reagan trying to delay Iran's hostage release to deny Carter the credit.
      Nixon trying to delay the end of the vietnam war to deny LBJ the credit.

      It is completely within the realm of the possible that Trump is conspiring with Putin to fuck over american efforts to defeat ISIS in order to deny credit to the democrats. And if he is doing that, we all deserve to know.

  3. I for one thank them by Crashmarik · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If they are behind the leaks of the DNC emails that showed Sanders was never going to be allowed to run that's something every registered Democrat had a right to know.

    If they are behind the release of the fact Obama used a pseudonym to email hillary, despite the fact he denied having any knowledge of her private email. That's good to know too.

    Then there is the price list for all the government posts that were handed out.

    At the very least they have done us one hell of a favor.