In the final hours of Barack
Obama's presidency, some White House officials reportedly raced to spread and
preserve information about possible communications between associates of
then-candidate Donald Trump and Russians.
The New York Times, citing former American
officials, reported that these officials were concerned that the
information they were gaining on the Russian meddling in the election and the
possible campaign contact could be compromised with the new administration, and
they wanted to set up any future investigation with the information.
According to The Times, after Obama asked for an
investigation into Russian tampering into the elections, officials found some
"damning" evidence.
A former intelligence official confirmed to Fox News
that the Obama administration was determined to keep the Russian issue alive
and data on Moscow's election interference was circulated broadly.
The usual intelligence practice is to circulate
assessments privately, but such was the gravity of Russia's actions that there
were two versions - one for the public to digest and the other classified, the
former official said.
The New York Times reported that intelligence agencies
pushed forward as much “raw” intelligence they could analyze. The intelligence
reports were also reportedly labeled a low classification level, so they would
be accessible to more government workers — and some European allies.
The Obama officials reportedly wanted to make sure
that as many individuals — with the proper clearances — could see the
intelligence. One of the tactics reportedly used was that officials asked
pointed questions during intelligence briefings. The report said the answers to
those questions are archived.
Congressional staffers have said they are unaware of
any evidence that materials related to Russia are not being preserved.
But Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York
said last week: "There is real concern that some in the administration may
try to cover up its ties to Russia by deleting emails, texts and other records
that could shine a light on those connections. These records are likely to be
the subject of executive branch as well as congressional investigations and
must be preserved."
The Times report was released the same day that
allegations emerged that Attorney General Jeff Sessions had two conversations
with Russia’s ambassador to the U.S. during last year’s presidential campaign.
The Wall Street Journal reported
that U.S. investigators had examined contacts between Sessions and Russian
officials and that the Justice Department was "wringing its hands"
about how to proceed in the matter.
The Journal also reported that Sessions did not know
that his communications were under investigation.
Reports about the meetings appeared to contradict a
statement Sessions made during his confirmation hearing to become
attorney general.
Sessions was asked by Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., how he
would respond "if there is any evidence that anyone affiliated with the
Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of this
campaign."When contacted by Fox News late Wednesday, Sessions said,
"I never met with any Russian officials to discuss issues of the campaign.
I have no idea what this allegation is about. It is false."
Earlier this year, the FBI interviewed Michael Flynn,
then Trump's national security adviser, about his contacts with Russia's
ambassador to the U.S. after the election. Flynn was fired after it was
revealed that he misled Vice President Pence and other White House officials
about the nature of his discussions with the envoy.
Trump, for his part, has denied that his campaign had
any contact with Russian officials. The Times report pointed out that Trump has
accused Obama officials with playing up the Russia story.
“The only new piece of information that has come to
light is that political appointees in the Obama administration have sought to
create a false narrative to make an excuse for their own defeat in the election,”
Sean Spicer, the current White House spokesman, said, according to The Times.
“There continues to be no there, there.”
The intelligence community has assessed that Russia's
hacking of Democratic groups and operatives was carried out to help Trump defeat
Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Trump has denied having any knowledge that aides were
in touch with Russian intelligence agents during the election.
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