Russia Not Necessarily Interfering In Election To Help Trump, Officials Say

Since concerns about the Russian government’s interference in the 2016 presidential election were confirmed last year, the worry some have had is that those agents will be meddling in the process again this year. Although that does seem to be the case, intelligence officials aren’t entirely convinced Russia is pushing for President Donald Trump’s reelection.

This month, Shelby Pierson, a senior election security official, gave a testimony before the House Intelligence Committee in which she explained that Russian agents were behind a campaign to help Trump retain the White House for another term.

Three unnamed intelligence officials, however, have told CNN that Pierson’s assertion was flawed. One described her claims made in the House as “misleading,” while another said that Pierson’s testimony lacked important “nuance.”

One official told CNN that “the intelligence doesn’t say that … [it’s] not that they have a preference, it’s a step short of that. It’s more that they understand the president is someone they can work with, he’s a dealmaker.”

So while the Russian government might see Trump as someone who could cooperate with them, there isn’t yet evidence showing that they necessarily view him as an ally, according to the security officials.

It doesn’t take a high level national security clearance to see that Russian interference after 2016 has been less about supporting Trump and his administration – for which their government has little love – and more about disrupting the American election process and fomenting political division online.

Trump has long contested the intelligence community’s assertion that Russia meddled in the previous election, despite the report from FBI special investigator Robert Mueller clearly showing interference efforts.

Trump last week ousted former acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire likely for allowing Pierson's briefing.

Democrats have consistently pointed to Trump’s foreign policies as often benefiting Russia’s global aims. Speaking on CNN this past weekend, Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., claimed that Russia would want a second Trump term “because he has been a gift to Russia.” He pointed to Trump’s controversial decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria as well as his repeated barbs against NATO allies.

Presidential hopeful Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., recently said that he had been briefed by intelligence officials that his campaign was being bolstered by Russian agents, though it was not made clear what efforts were being taken. Sanders condemned Russia, accusing them of “trying to cause chaos” among Americans.