Former CIA Director Tells Lawmakers About 'Very Aggressive' Russian Election Meddling

npr ^

[Stopthethreat]

Former CIA Director John Brennan told the House Intelligence Committee Tuesday that Russia "brazenly interfered in the 2016 election process," despite U.S. efforts to warn them off. Brennan testified in an open session of the committee, one of a handful of congressional committee now investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

Brennan said he told his Russian counterpart, the head of Russia's FSB, last August that if Russia pursued its efforts to interfere, "it would destroy any near-term prospect for improvement in relations" between the two countries. He said Russia denied any attempts to interfere.

In his opening statement, Brennan also recounted how he had briefed congressional leaders in August of last year, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisc., Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Intelligence Committees about the "full details" of what he knew of Russia's interference in the 2016 election. Brennan said he became convinced last summer that Russia was trying to interfere in the campaign, saying "they were very aggressive."

Brennan said he is "aware of information and intelligence that revealed contacts and interactions between Russian officials and U.S. persons involved in the Trump campaign." Brennan said that concerned him, "because of known Russian efforts to suborn such individuals," and that it raised questions about whether or not the Russians "were able to gain the cooperation of those individuals." Brennan added he didn't know if "collusion existed" between the Russians and those he identified as involved in the Trump campaign.

[Stopthethreat]

No names, nothing specific, still no evidence. Just more BS and speculation.

Textbook projection: "Frequently, individuals on a treasonous path do not even realize they're on that path until it gets to be too late" -Brennan

[Uncle Miltie]

Still a nothingburger.

[PGR88]

Replace “US” with “Ukraine” and Russia with CIA, and you would get the same story.

[DBrow]

I heard part of his testimony. At no time did he state what it was the Russians were doing.

[ptsal]

Brennan....scum

[RummyChick]

Did anyone bother to ask him if they looked to see if the CIA masking tool was used. the one that makes a hack appear its from Russia but it is really the CIA?

[Lurkinanloomin]

Nothing Brennan says can be believed.
One of his employees before he was CIA Director turned up dead after breaching Obama’s passport records.

[madprof98]

Is anybody else sick to death of these people?

[DoughtyOne]

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...this is a general all-purpose message, and should not be seen as targeting any individual I am responding to...

[Louis Foxwell]

As Brennan seals his fate by his own words the swamp continues to be drained. Many, many fish will flop in the mud and be baked by the scorching sun of truth.

[Kevin in California]

Yeah John, we believe you. If you said it happened, then it must have happened. Just remember, anything that comes from your mouth is usually a lie.

Give us some concrete evidence then maybe someone will believe you........maybe.

Otherwise, STFU!

[heights]

And the Evidence is................................................................................................................................................?

[GOPJ]

Did Brennan - at one point - say he had shared classified information with the Russians but it was after turning around three times, saying his mother’s name backwards and throwing a blue marble over his left shoulder?

[Lion Den Dan]

Brennan is a serial liar and fabricator. If anyone is to be believed about Russian interference in our election, they better pony up with the who did the deed, with whom the deed was done and explain how the deed influenced the election. Until then, I call BS.

[ZULU]

Lying bastard snake

[Freemeorkillme]

Very aggressively meddled holes in Seth Rich’s back!

[antidemoncrat]

Can’t believe anything a Muslim says (see taqiyya).

[GOPJ]

Did Brennan - at one point - say he had shared classified information with the Russians but it was after turning around three times, saying his mother’s name backwards and throwing a blue marble over his left shoulder? (not Trump, but Brennan himself...)

Did Brennan - BIG INTELLIGENCE DUDE - also quote the New York Times because he had no clue?

[JBW1949]

His word is as good as iron pyrite....

[lgjhn23]

Show us some real evidence. Whadda POS.