Trump's CIA director says he has 'every expectation' Russia will meddle in America's 2018 midterms


On Monday, CIA Director Mike Pompeo said that he views Russia primarily as an adversary and shares the concerns of European countries that Moscow continues to interfere in their democratic elections. "I haven't seen a significant decrease in their activity," Pompeo told BBC News, and when asked if he expected Russia to meddle in America's 2018 midterm elections, he replied: "Of course. I have every expectation that they will continue to try and do that." He added he's "confident that America will be able to have a free and fair election," and "that we will push back in a way that is sufficiently robust that the impact they have on our election won't be great."
Also on Monday, Russia accused the U.S. of attempting to influence its March presidential election, specifically pointing to sanctions Congress told President Trump to impose on Russia as punishment for Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The Trump administration then said it isn't imposing those sanctions "because the legislation is, in fact, serving as a deterrent."
The BBC's Gordon Corera asked Pompeo, who briefs Trump most mornings, if he finds himself "having to walk a fine line" talking to Trump about Russia, since Trump has frequently dismissed Russian interference in the 2016 election while the CIA and the rest of the U.S. intelligence community publicly says Russia intervened to help Trump win. "I don't do fine lines, I do the truth," Pompeo said. "We deliver nearly every day personally to the president the most exquisite truth that we know from the CIA."
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.
Pompeo also said he tells Trump that North Korea might have nuclear missiles that could reach the U.S. in a matter of months, and that he sees his main goal as unshackling the CIA. "We are the world's finest espionage service," he said. "We are going to go out there and do our damnedest to steal secrets on behalf of the American people."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Is China's giant new hydropower dam a 'water bomb' aimed at India?
Today's Big Question River is a 'lifeline for millions' across Asia
-
Aysegul Savas' 6 favorite books for readers who love immersive settings
Feature The Paris-based Turkish author recommends works by Hiromi Kawakami, Virginia Woolf, and more
-
Thailand, Cambodia agree to ceasefire in border fight
Speed Read At least 38 people were killed and more than 300,000 displaced in the recent violence
-
Judge halts GOP defunding of Planned Parenthood
Speed Read The Trump administration can't withhold Medicaid funds from Planned Parenthood, said the ruling
-
Trump contradicts Israel, says 'starvation' in Gaza
Speed Read The president suggests Israel could be doing more to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians
-
Trump executive order targets homeless
Speed Read It will now be easier for states and cities to remove homeless people from the streets
-
Columbia pays $200M to settle with White House
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the school of failing to protect its Jewish students amid pro-Palestinian protests
-
Florida judge and DOJ make Epstein trouble for Trump
Speed Read The Trump administration's request to release grand jury transcripts from the Epstein investigation was denied
-
Trump attacks Obama as Epstein furor mounts
Speed Read The Trump administration accused the Obama administration of 'treasonous' behavior during the 2016 election
-
Trump administration releases MLK files
Speed Read Newly released documents on the 1968 assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did not hold any new revelations, King historians said
-
Japan's prime minister feels pressure after election losses
Speed Read Shigeru Ishiba has vowed to remain in office