FBI Director James Comey reportedly disagreed with the government's decision earlier this month to confirm suspicions that Russia was meddling in the U.S. election, a former FBI official told CNBC on Monday, because it was too close to Election Day. "He believed it to be true," the official said, "but was against putting it out before the election."
On Oct. 7, the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement saying the U.S. was "confident" Russia had directed hacks on American political institutions, including the Democratic National Committee, in efforts "intended to interfere with the U.S. election process." The FBI source told CNBC that Comey argued privately against making the disclosure because of the impending election, and ultimately saw to it that the FBI not be named in the statement.
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