Trump's comments about accepting foreign help reportedly wrecked 2 years of FBI work
Three months after President Trump appointed Christopher Wray as FBI director, Wray told Congress he'd set up a "foreign influence" task force, bringing together dozens of counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and cyber officials to work with FBI field offices, other federal law enforcement agencies, state and local governments, and social media companies to prevent the type of election interference Russia perpetrated in 2016. "Make no mistake — the scope of this foreign influence threat is both broad and deep," he told Congress in August 2017.
In his Wednesday night interview with ABC News, "Trump undercut the whole operation in a matter of seconds," Politico reports. Trump's stated willingness to accept dirt on domestic rivals from foreign governments has "undone months of work, essentially inviting foreign spies to meddle with 2020 presidential campaigns and demoralizing the agents trying to stop them."
Federal Election Commission Chairwoman Ellen Weintraub reminded America — and probably one American in particular — on Thursday night that "it is illegal for any person to solicit, accept, or receive anything of value from a foreign national in connection with a U.S. election," including "foreign assistance." Fox News senior judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano made a similar point on Thursday afternoon. If Trump did what he proposed on ABC News, "he would be committing a felony," he told anchor Shepard Smith, and legally there's "no wiggle room with respect to dirt, with respect to opposition research."
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.
"The president of the United States of America is prepared to commit a felony to get re-elected — that was my [first] reaction, and it was not a happy one," Napolitano said. FBI officials probably agree. "It has to be demoralizing to some extent and confusing and, let's face it, unprecedented, to have a commander in chief who has such a lack of fundamental understanding about the work the Justice Department and intelligence community do in this area," Greg Brower, Wray's former top FBI congressional liaison, told Politico.
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
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.
-
Putin's preordained win marred by protests
speed read Voters participated in a silent protest — endorsed by late opposition leader Alexei Navalny — against the president
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump's 'bloodbath' rhetoric draws scrutiny
speed read In a new speech, the former president seemingly promises violence if he loses the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Russians start to vote in election Putin will win
speed read Putin's opponents are mostly in prison, exiled or dead
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Schumer slams Netanyahu, calls for new leader
speed read The senator — one of Israel's most avid supporters — criticized the country's handling of the Gaza war
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
South Dakota governor sued over Texas dentist promo
speed read Gov. Kristi Noem posted a video testimonial that may have been an "undisclosed advertisement"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Hur defends description of Biden's 'poor memory'
speed read Former special counsel Robert Hur defended disparaging remarks made about Biden's age in his report
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Pentagon's surprise $300M for Ukraine
speed read The Pentagon is giving $300 million worth of military aid to Ukraine, mostly for ammunition
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Trump clinch nominations
speed read The current and former president have each secured enough delegates for an election rematch
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published