Tag: Trump CIA

Trump brushes aside CIA assertion that crown prince ordered killing, defends him and Saudi Arabia

President Trump responded Nov. 22 to questions about the death of Washington Post contributor Jamal Khashoggi, saying, “The world is a vicious place.” (The Washington Post)

PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Trump on Thursday contradicted the CIA’s assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Washington Post contributing columnist Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that the agency had “feelings” but did not firmly place blame for the death.

Trump, in defiant remarks to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, defended his continued support for Mohammed in the face of a CIA assessment that the crown prince had ordered the killing.

“He denies it vehemently,” Trump said of the crown prince. He reiterated that his own conclusion was that “maybe he did, maybe he didn’t.”

View the complete November 22 article by Josh Dawsey on The Washington Post website here.

CIA director expects Russia will try to target U.S. mid-term elections

The following article by the Reuters staff was posted on their website January 29, 2018:

CIA Director Mike Pompeo Credit:
Jacquelyn Martin/AP

LONDON (Reuters) – CIA Director Mike Pompeo said Russia will target U.S. mid-term elections later this year as part of the Kremlin’s attempt to influence domestic politics across the West, and warned the world had to do more to push back against Chinese meddling.

Russia has been accused of meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating the allegations, which Moscow denies, and whether there was any collusion involving President Donald Trump’s associates.

In an interview with the BBC aired on Tuesday, U.S. intelligence chief Pompeo said Russia had a long history of information campaigns and said its threat would not go away. Continue reading “CIA director expects Russia will try to target U.S. mid-term elections”