Russia and Putin · First term · № 57
Called reports that Russia preferred him in the 2020 election a 'misinformation campaign'
“Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of the Do Nothing Democrat candidates who still have been unable to, after two weeks, count their votes in Iowa. Hoax number 7!”
- Said
- Subject
- 2020 election briefing
- Type
- Intelligence and security
- Topic
- Elections
- Era
- First term
What happened
On February 13, 2020 Shelby Pierson, the intelligence community's election threats executive, briefed the House Intelligence Committee, and news reports said the briefing included a finding that Russia had a preference for Trump. CNN reported, citing a White House official, that Trump became irate at acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire over the briefing; Richard Grenell, the ambassador to Germany, was named that week to replace Maguire. On February 24 a senior official in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence disputed some accounts of the briefing. Sources told CBS News that Pierson had not said Russia was actively aiding Trump's reelection, and that the assessment she delivered indicated the Russian government had established a preference for him.