Former House Intelligence chair says Russia's meddling was so 'wildly successful' it's still shaping 'legislative process today'
Russia's meddling has extended far beyond the 2016 presidential election, former House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) warned Tuesday evening at a panel hosted by Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. In fact, Rogers argued, Russia's interference was so "wildly successful" that it's still shaping Washington discourse — months and months after Election Day.
"Their purpose was to sow discontent and mistrust in our elections, they wanted us to be at each others' throat when it was over," Rogers said, noting the wave of cyberattacks on Democratic political groups and the spread of false information via social media. "It's influencing, I would say, legislative process today."
Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, who was also a panel discussion participant, agreed that Russia's efforts were a "huge success." "This is the most assertive, most aggressive, and most directly impactful of any engagement that they have had in our elections," Clapper said.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Clapper will testify next week before the Senate Judiciary Committee about Russia's election meddling and whether President Trump's associates may have played a hand in it. Trump has maintained that Russian interference did not boost his chances of winning the White House.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
'Biden's hit a pothole'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is Marjorie Taylor Greene finished?
Talking Point Marjorie Taylor Greene's effort to oust House Speaker Mike Johnson failed, but it still left many of her fellow Republicans furious
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Google unveils 'AI overviews' atop search results
Speed Read Users of the search engine in the US will now get AI-generated answers first
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published