The Washington Post is reporting that the heads of the FBI and National Intelligence are now on board with the CIA which has claimed that Russia tried to sway the U.S. presidential election in Donald Trump’s favor.
After mounting media speculation about U.S. agencies’ differing views on Russia’s alleged involvement in the recent presidential election, the Washington Post is reporting that they may finally be on the same page.
Citing inside sources, the news outlet has published a story stating that “FBI Director James B. Comey and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper have backed a CIA assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election in part to help Donald Trump win the presidency.”
The piece also quotes CIA Director John O. Brennan who reportedly informed his team in an internal message that “Earlier this week, I met separately with (Director) FBI James Comey and DNI Jim Clapper, and there is strong consensus among us on the scope, nature, and intent of Russian interference in our presidential election.”
The Post goes on to note that “The CIA and FBI declined to comment.”
In late October, The New York Times revealed that, throughout the summer, the FBI had investigated Russia’s potential involvement in the election--including possible ties with the Trump campaign--but reportedly found no evidence corroborating a push for the Republican.
Trump himself has also previously denied those claims.
However, U.S. intelligence officials have recently admitted that there appears to be evidence that the Russians may have acted, in part, to benefit Trump’s candidacy.
During a speech to donors on Thursday, Hillary Clinton is said to have blamed the subversive activity on Russian president Vladimir Putin, whom she reportedly stated “has a personal beef against me.”