WASHINGTON — US senators have launched a probe into Russian spying, saying intelligence reports of Moscow’s interference in the 2016 election and possible ties to American political parties “raise profound concerns.”
The investigation, backed by both Democrats and Republicans on the Senate Intelligence Committee, could trigger forced testimony by officials of both Barack Obama’s outgoing administration and the incoming government of Donald Trump, who won the Nov. 8 presidential vote.
US intelligence agencies allege that Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a covert effort to interfere in the election to boost Trump and harm his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton.
A report from the Director of National Intelligence released early this month says the Russians hacked Democratic Party computers and accounts to release files embarrassing to Clinton, and also conducted a campaign of media manipulation with the same aim.
But the public version of the report was questioned for offering only weak evidence of its claims.
An unproven dossier compiled by a former British MI6 intelligence agent also alleged close ties between the Trump campaign and Russian government, and said Moscow had lurid video of Trump while in Russia.
“It is critical to have a full understanding of the scope of Russian intelligence activities impacting the United States,” the Senate panel said on Friday.
Trump, who will take office in one week, has repeatedly rejected suggestions that Moscow aided in his election victory.
He has also compared US intelligence agencies to “Nazi Germany” for allegedly leaking to the media their analyses to undermine him.
The probe will review the intelligence community’s assessments and also other assessments, “including any intelligence regarding links between Russia and individuals associated with political campaigns,” the committee said.
That suggested the former British spy’s explosive report could also be reviewed.
Vowing to “get it right,” the panel said most of the work will be done out of public scrutiny to protect classified information.
In light of the hacking allegations, Trump’s close ties with Russia, and especially President Vladimir Putin, have come under growing scrutiny.
Trump, who sees an opportunity to cooperate with Moscow in fighting terror groups like Daesh (the so-called IS), has expressed admiration for Putin, and only reluctantly accepted US intelligence’s conclusion that Russian hackers acting on Putin’s authority interfered in the US elections.
The Washington Post reported that Trump’s incoming national security adviser Michael Flynn telephoned Moscow’s ambassador to Washington, Sergey Kislyak, several times the day before Obama unveiled punitive measures over Russia’s alleged cyberattacks to influence the US election.
Flynn receives a speaking fee from Russian government-funded Russia Today.
Trump’s incoming press secretary, Sean Spicer, said Flynn in fact spoke with the envoy on Christmas Day, sending him a text to wish him a merry Christmas and happy New Year.
“I look forward to touching base with you, and working with you, and I wish you all the best,” Spicer quoted Flynn as telling the ambassador, adding that the envoy responded with holiday greetings.
On Dec. 28, the pair spoke by phone about “the logistics of setting up a call with the president of Russia and the president-elect after he was sworn in, and they exchanged logistical information on how to initiate and schedule that call,” Spicer said. — AFP
