WASHINGTON (A.P.), Russian President Vladimir Putin could use the support of Ukraine by the Biden administration as a pretext for ordering a new campaign in American politics to interfere, U.S. intellignce officers have determined.
According to several people familiar with the matter, intelligence agencies have not yet found evidence that Putin authorized actions similar to those Russia is believed to be taking in 2016 and 2020 to support former President Donald Trump. These sources spoke anonymously to protect their confidential findings.
Officials believe that Putin’s antipathy towards the West and repeated denigrations of Ukraine make it appear that he sees the U.S. support for Ukraine’s resistance, which would give him more incentive to attack another U.S. election. It is unclear which candidates Russia may try to promote and what methods.
This assessment is made with the U.S. electoral process already under threat. The American public is still divided by the 2016 presidential election and the subsequent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol when Trump supporters tried to stop the U.S. Capitol’s certification of his defeat to President Joe Biden. Trump has repeatedly attacked intelligence officials and claimed that investigations into Russian influence on his campaigns were political vendettas.
Tensions between Washington and Moscow have reached new heights since the end of the Cold Wa. The White House has increased its military support for Ukraine. It has resisted Russian war crimes accusations and has helped impose sanctions around the world that have crippled Russia’s economy.
Experts say that there is no indication the war will be over soon. This could lead to Moscow pursuing retaliation while its resources are clogged in Ukraine. However, “it is almost certain that a depleted Russian army after Ukraine will again double down hybrid tactics to wreak havoc on us and other allied nations,” stated David Salvo (deputy director of the German Marshall Fund’s Alliance for Securing Democracy).
Russia was accused of spreading disinformation in Ukraine and other past conflicts against adversaries. It has also been charged in previous campaigns against enemies that used cyberattacks to disrupt government governments.
FILE – A booth is ready for a voter, Feb. 24, 2020, at City Hall in Cambridge, Mass., on the first morning of early voting in the state. U.S. intelligence officials think Russian President Vladimir Putin may use the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine as a pretext to order a new interference campaign in American politics. That’s according to a new assessment described to The Associated Press by several people who spoke on condition of anonymity. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola, File)
Top U.S. intelligence officers are still working to create a new center that will focus on the influence campaigns of Russia, China, and other enemies. Avril Hines, the U.S. director for national intelligence, recently appointed Jeffrey Wichman, a career CIA officer, to the post of election threats executive, several months after Shely Pierson’s departure.
Nicole de Haay, the spokesperson for Haines, stated that “Our Election Threats Executive” continues to lead efforts of the Intelligence Community against foreign threats to U.S. election elections. “We are also working to fulfill the legislative requirement to establish a center for intelligence integration on malign foreign influences.”
De Haay refused to comment on the views of intelligence officers regarding Putin’s intentions. The Russian Embassy in Washington didn’t respond to our request for comment.
According to past investigations and indictments against alleged foreign agents, foreign adversaries have always sought to interfere with American politics. The United States has accused Putin of orchestrating influence operations to support Trump’s 2020 campaign. A bipartisan Senate investigation into the 2016 election revealed intelligence that Russia used cyber-espionage to discredit its opponent and boost Trump’s popularity.
Robert Mueller, the special counsel, conducted a nearly two-year investigation and found no evidence that the Trump campaign conspired or coordinated with Russia. Mueller did not pass judgment on Trump’s obstruction of justice.
Trump falsely claims that Biden stole the election he lost, and Republicans in many states are following his lead by opposing security measures.
Foreign influence activities are constantly under investigation by intelligence agencies and law enforcement. Five men were charged by the Justice Department with acting for China to harass Chinese dissidents and derail a lesser-known congressional candidate.
Experts believe the Foreign Malign Influence Center, as proposed by Congress, would provide much-needed direction for government efforts to study adversaries. The budget that Congress passed last month offered partial funding for this center because it funds the government only through September and not for a whole year.
There have been questions from Capitol Hill and the intelligence director’s office about the center’s structure and size and whether it would duplicate existing efforts in government. The delays to the center were previously caused by Capitol Hill and the intelligence director’s offices. Congress ordered the director’s office last month to submit a report within six months on the “future organization, responsibilities, and organizational placement” for the center as if some of these questions are still unanswered.
In a statement, Ohio’s top Republican, Mike Turner, stated that House Intelligence Committee was monitoring “the malign activities of our adversaries.” The proposed center could be one of the ways to help.
Turner stated that Russia continued to use disinformation campaigns against Ukraine and reminded the United States to be strategic in its response. “It is no secret that our adversaries use deception to undermine the U.S. national security interests. We must consider all options to safeguard our democracy.”
