President of the Republican House Conference Liz Cheney
Elizabeth (Liz) Lynn Cheney Arkansas Governor Urges ‘Consistent National Message’ About Wearing Masks Liz Cheney tweets the image of Dick Cheney wearing a mask: ‘#realmenwearmasks’ Republican lawmakers support Israeli plan to annex areas in West Bank MORE (Wyo.) He is asking for responses from the White House regarding an explosive report that intelligence officials concluded that Russia awarded rewards to US troops in Afghanistan.
Cheney, the third-ranking Republican in Congress, said on Twitter that if the reports on the matter are accurate, the Trump administration must answer a series of questions about what it knew about intelligence and how it responded.
He also focused on the White House’s denial that President Trump
Donald John Trump Four men accused of trying to tear down Andrew Jackson statue in DC Video shows retired workers signs of social estrangement ahead of Trump Tulsa rally: WaPo Biden criticizes Trump for failing to sanction Russia for the intelligence of the “rewards” of Afghan militants MORE and Vice President Pence were briefed on intelligence, saying more information is needed on why this was the case.
“If the information about Russian rewards on US forces is true, the White House should explain: 1. Why was the President or Vice President not informed? Was the information on the PDB? 2. Who knew and when? “Has it been done in response to protect our forces and hold Putin accountable?” She tweeted.
If reporting the Russian rewards on American forces is true, the White House must explain:
1. Why was the President or Vice President not informed? Was the information in the PDB?
2. Who knew and when?
3. What has been done in response to protect our forces and hold Putin accountable?– Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) June 28, 2020
The New York Times reported on Friday that US intelligence officials concluded earlier this year that a Russian military unit was covertly trying to offer rewards to Taliban-linked militants for killing coalition forces in Afghanistan, including US troops.
The US intelligence apparatus has known for months about the alleged efforts of the Russian military intelligence unit, the Times reported, citing informed officials on the matter. The report also noted that intelligence officials briefed Trump on the matter during an interagency meeting in March. Various responses were discussed; however, the White House has not authorized any, according to the Times.
The White House and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence rejected the Times report in separate statements on Saturday. In a shared tweet on Sunday, Trump also fiercely denied receiving an intelligence briefing on Russian rewards.
“No one informed me or told me, Pence or Chief of Staff Mark Meadows
Mark Randall Meadows White House undergoes dramatic change in staff Republican nominee says his victory in North Carolina is not a referendum on Trump House vote MORE on the so-called attacks on our troops in Afghanistan by the Russians, as reported through an ‘anonymous source’ by Fake News @nytimes, “Trump tweeted.
Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe
John Lee RatcliffeBolton asks the court to dismiss the Justice Department lawsuit, citing noncompliance with a claim. US Department of Justice Seeks Temporary Restraining Order Blocking Publication of Bolton Hillicon Valley Book: Report Reveals CIA Security Breaks Led to Mass Violation | Pelosi asks advertisers to put pressure on social media giants | Experts warn companies facing serious cyber threats in the COVID-19 era MORE He said neither Trump nor Pence were briefed on the matter, adding that “the New York Times reports and all other subsequent news reports on an alleged briefing are inaccurate.”
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany echoed that statement, but did not deny the accuracy of the intelligence.
“This does not speak to the merit of the alleged intelligence but to the inaccuracy of the New York Times story that erroneously suggests that President Trump was informed on this matter,” said McEnany.
A Times spokesman told The Hill on Sunday that the newspaper is “on our side. history, whose details have not been denied by the President’s own National Security agencies. “
Twenty American soldiers were killed in combat in Afghanistan in 2019. However, it is unclear how many or what specific cases may have been related to the rewards, the Times reported.
Report likely to add scrutiny to Trump’s relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich PutinBiden criticizes Trump for failing to sanction Russia for intelligence of ‘rewards’ by Afghan militants The White House denies being informed of the rewards of Afghan militants The Russian intelligence unit offered rewards for killing coalition troops in Afghanistan: MORE report. Trump has faced criticism all his time in the White House for being overly accommodating to Putin. For example, at a summit in Helsinki in 2018, Trump questioned the conclusion of the US intelligence community that Russia interfered in previous presidential elections.
Presumptive Democratic Presidential Candidate Joe Biden
Joe BidenBiden criticizes Trump for failing to sanction Russia for Afghan militants’ ‘rewards’ intelligence Why should Biden’s big advantage be concerned? Democrats White House undergoes dramatic change in staff MORE He said during a town hall Saturday that the information about Russia’s rewards, if true, would amount to a “shocking disclosure.”
“Not only has he failed to sanction or impose any consequences in Russia for this heinous violation of international law. Donald Trump has continued his shameful campaign of deference and degradation to Vladimir Putin,” Biden said, adding that “Trump’s full presence It has been a gift for Putin. ”
Biden promised to confront Putin and impose “serious costs” on Russia if elected.
.
