Donald Trump helped by Russia, intelligence committee says
Republican-led Senators back finding of US intelligence agencies - and contradict Trump
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
You are now subscribed
Your newsletter sign-up was successful
The Republican-led Senate Intelligence Committee has backed US intelligence agencies’ 2017 finding that Russia worked to boost Donald Trump’s chances of winning the 2016 presidential election - and to hurt Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Its conclusion is “a powerful bipartisan endorsement of a conclusion that had been called into question by Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee”, says Politico.
That committee, in the lower House of Representatives, agreed that Moscow tried to damage Clinton’s campaign, but stopped short of saying Russia tried to help Trump.
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.
But the Senate committee chairman, Richard Burr, a Republican, left no room for ambiguity. Russia’s efforts were “extensive, sophisticated, and ordered by president Putin himself for the purpose of helping Donald Trump and hurting Hillary Clinton”, he said. “There is no doubt that Russia undertook an unprecedented effort to interfere with our 2016 elections.”
Burr’s conclusion contradicts Trump, says The Wall Street Journal, undermining his “rejection of the notion that Russia wanted him to win”.
The president, who was vocal on Twitter when the Republican leaders of the House committee released their favourable finding, has issued a public “no comment” on the Senate committee’s results.
A full, more detailed, report of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s 14-month investigation will be released following a declassification review conducted by the intelligence community.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How the FCC’s ‘equal time’ rule worksIn the Spotlight The law is at the heart of the Colbert-CBS conflict
-
What is the endgame in the DHS shutdown?Today’s Big Question Democrats want to rein in ICE’s immigration crackdown
-
‘Poor time management isn’t just an inconvenience’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Kurt Olsen: Trump’s ‘Stop the Steal’ lawyer playing a major White House roleIn the Spotlight Olsen reportedly has access to significant US intelligence
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump
-
How corrupt is the UK?The Explainer Decline in standards ‘risks becoming a defining feature of our political culture’ as Britain falls to lowest ever score on global index
-
Judge blocks Trump suit for Michigan voter rollsSpeed Read A Trump-appointed federal judge rejected the administration’s demand for voters’ personal data
-
US to send 200 troops to Nigeria to train armySpeed Read Trump has accused the West African government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks