FBI Backs CIA Conclusion on Russian Hacking in US Elections

CIA’s John Brennan said he spoke to FBI Director James Comey and there is a “consensus” on Russian interference.

Both Russia and Donald Trump have denied accusations of Russian interference in US elections. (Photo: The Quint/Reuters)

The FBI has backed the the CIA’s claim that Russia interfered in the presidential election with the goal of supporting Republican candidate Donald Trump.

In a message sent to employees, CIA Director John Brennan said he had spoken with FBI Director James Comey and James Clapper, the director of national intelligence.

There is strong consensus among us on the scope, nature, and intent of Russian interference in our presidential election.

CIA Director John Brennan in the message

A US official who had seen the unclassified message from Brennan confirmed it to The Associated Press on Friday.

Also Read: US Poll Hack: Why Did White House Wait So Long to Act, Asks Trump

President Barack Obama promised that the US will retaliate against Russia for its suspected meddling in America's election process, an accusation the Kremlin has vehemently denied.

As the White House grew more bullish about suggesting that President Vladimir Putin was personally involved in the hacks, Obama said he’d spoken directly to Putin about his concerns about Russian meddling.

He said whenever a foreign government tries to interfere in US elections, the nation must take action "and we will at a time and place of our own choosing."

White House officials said it was a "fact" that Russian hacking helped Donald Trump's campaign against Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. White House press secretary Josh Earnest on Thursday also assailed Trump himself over his refusal to acknowledge the hacking and his attacks on the U.S. intelligence community.

The tough talk from the White House fell flat in Moscow, where Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the accusations baseless and inappropriate.

They should either stop talking about that, or produce some proof at last. Otherwise it all begins to look unseemly.

Dmitry Peskov, Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, on White House’s accusations

Trump too has rejected the CIA’s assessment that Russia’s aim was to help him win and argued on Twitter that “these are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.”

Also Read: CIA’s Claims That Russia Hacked US Polls Are ‘Ridiculous’: Trump