Tag: Trump knew about Russian bounty on dead Americans

Father of Marine killed in 2019 bomb attack wants answers amid reports of Russia bounties

“Why hasn’t anybody called me or my ex-wife to settle us?” asked Erik Hendriks, the father of the late Cpl. Robert A. Hendriks.

Amid reports of intelligence about possible Russian bounties for Taliban fighters who kill Americans in Afghanistan, the father of a Marine who died in a roadside bomb attack there last year wants answers.

Erik Hendriks’ 25-year-old son, Cpl. Robert A. Hendriks, was among three Marines who were killed in the bomb attack on a convoy outside Bagram Airfield.

Hendriks said he learned about reports of the possible payments to Taliban-linked militants in a call from a reporter Monday. Continue reading.

Trump Got Written Briefing in February on Possible Russian Bounties, Officials Say

New York Times logoThe investigation into Russia’s suspected operation is said to focus in part on the killings of three Marines in a truck bombing last year, officials said.

American officials provided a written briefing in late February to President Trump laying out their conclusion that a Russian military intelligence unit offered and paid bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. and coalition troops in Afghanistan, two officials familiar with the matter said.

The investigation into the suspected Russian covert operation to incentivize such killings has focused in part on an April 2019 car bombing that killed three Marines as one such potential attack, according to multiple officials familiar with the matter.

The new information emerged as the White House tried on Monday to play down the intelligence assessment that Russia sought to encourage and reward killings — including reiterating a claim that Mr. Trump was never briefed about the matter and portraying the conclusion as disputed and dubious. Continue reading.