By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
In typical Donald Trump fashion, the Republican presidential candidate doesn’t buy the federal government’s belief that Russia is trying to influence the election by hacking Democrats.
Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul said Tuesday that he warned Trump about the Russian hacks, but Trump promptly rejected the information, CBS News reports.
“I think he has in his mind that there’s not the proof,” McCaul, a Trump supporter, said at the event in Austin, according to video obtained by Politico. “Now he hasn’t had the briefing I’ve had, but I made it clear that in my judgment it was a nation-state.”
During the final debate last week, Trump again said he didn’t believe Russia was responsible for the hacks.
“She has no idea whether it’s Russia, China, or anybody else,” Trump said. “Hillary, you have no idea.”
The federal government indicated for the first time earlier this month that Russia is behind the hacking of U.S. political groups.
“The U.S. Intelligence Community (USIC) is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of e-mails from US persons and institutions, including from US political organizations,” the Department of Homeland Security said in a joint statement with Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.
