House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) wants U.S. intelligence officials to brief the House of Representatives regarding reports that Russia placed bounties on American troops in Afghanistan.
Citing anonymous officials, several news outlets claimed Russians have been paying the Taliban to assassinate U.S.-led coalition troops.
U.S. officials later said the intelligence was suspect and that neither President Donald Trump nor Vice President Mike Pence was briefed on it.
“The questions that arise are: was the President briefed, and if not, why not, and why was Congress not briefed. Congress and the country need answers now.
“I therefore request an interagency brief for all House Members immediately. Congress needs to know what the intelligence community knows about this significant threat to American troops and our allies and what options are available to hold Russia accountable.”
Lawmakers, including some Republicans, have said in recent days they want answers about the intelligence.
Trump said the situation was potentially “another fabricated Russia Hoax,” referring to a myriad of reporters, pundits, and lawmakers who claimed there was evidence his campaign colluded with Russia. Those claims were dismissed by special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, which found no evidence supporting them.
“The White House statement addressing this issue earlier today, which denied such a briefing occurred, was accurate. The New York Times reporting, and all other subsequent news reports about such an alleged briefing are inaccurate,” he wrote.
“There is no consensus within the intelligence community on these allegations,” she said. “The veracity of the underlying allegations continue to be evaluated.”
Russian officials have denied the report.
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