The Washington Post reported late Friday that a secret CIA assessment of the 2016 election concluded that Russia intervened for the purpose of helping Donald Trump get elected.
The findings center on the treasure trove of hacked emails released by WikiLeaks in the lead up to the election, although founder Julian Assange has previously said the “Russian government is not the source.”
More from The Post:
The CIA has concluded in a secret assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help Donald Trump win the presidency, rather than just to undermine confidence in the U.S. electoral system, according to officials briefed on the matter.
Intelligence agencies have identified individuals with connections to the Russian government who provided WikiLeaks with thousands of hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee and others, including Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, according to U.S. officials. Those officials described the individuals as actors known to the intelligence community and part of a wider Russian operation to boost Trump and hurt Clinton’s chances.
“It is the assessment of the intelligence community that Russia’s goal here was to favor one candidate over the other, to help Trump get elected,” said a senior U.S. official briefed on an intelligence presentation made to U.S. senators. “That’s the consensus view.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been skeptical of CIA intelligence on Russian intrusions and the Trump transition team dismissed the findings Friday night, the newspaper reported.
Nonetheless, President Barack Obama ordered a full review of any such efforts to influence U.S. elections, the White House announced Friday.
As for doubts, social media users were equally skeptical of the administration’s motives here, suggesting that Democrats need to come to terms with the idea that they lost.
Here’s a sampling of responses from Twitter:
The Russian Government, Russia, The Russians, Vladimir Putin, The Kremlin
Russian Hack #FakeNews Blame the RUSSIANS!pic.twitter.com/4adZaeseZm— Νia?JustBlameRussia (@nia4_trump) December 10, 2016
New CIA intelligence suggests Russia also responsible for 9/11, the Challenger disaster, JFK assassination and the 1929 stock market crash.
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) December 10, 2016
If you didn’t want Russia having any influence, maybe someone shouldn’t have told Putin he’d have more flexibility after the election.
— Josh Earnst (@NotJoshEarnest) December 10, 2016
Dear Democrats,
We consider every news organization blaming Russia for Hillary’s loss to be #fakenews
Sincerely,
Non-Hillary Voters
— Tim Black ™ (@RealTimBlack) December 10, 2016
The same Obama who said a US election couldn’t possibly be rigged is now saying that Russia rigged the election. How odd. ? pic.twitter.com/zrx1KVBu5q
— ¡Elizabeth! (@MissLizzyNJ) December 10, 2016
Hillary blames Russia & #FakeNews for her loss
Reality Check it was the Scandals Corruption Collusion & Divisivenesspic.twitter.com/Ndbri9b2iT— Νia?JustBlameRussia (@nia4_trump) December 10, 2016
Hillary Is FILLED WITH GLEE Because WaPo Is Pushing Her Delusional Conspiracy Theory About Russia Hacking Our Election ? #MAGA pic.twitter.com/67U4D7daAG
— Jordan ?? MAGA (@Miami4Trump) December 10, 2016
Russia
Caused Hillary to have an abnornal cough for months, and pass out, with no official explanation that made sense.#FakeNews
— Rob (@reg1776) December 10, 2016
I’ve seen more media outrage tonight than I did at Russia blowing a passenger plane out of the sky & Obama hitting the greens as a response.
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) December 10, 2016
Let’s blame it on Russia today, tomorrow it can be fake news, next up global warming…This is getting really old! YOU LOST! GROW UP! ?
— Amy Mek (@AmyMek) December 10, 2016
If Tom Clancy had written this CIA/Russia story, his editors would’ve sent it back with notes to rework it for believability.
— shauna (@goldengateblond) December 10, 2016
CIA thinks Russia may have tampered with the election, yet totally missed Debbie Wasserman Schultz actually rigging the primaries.
— MARK SIMONE (@MarkSimoneNY) December 10, 2016
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The longest-tenured writer at BizPac Review, Tom grew up in Maryland before moving to Central Florida as a young teen. It is in the Sunshine State that he honed both his passion for politics and his writing skills.
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