As a flurry of news reports continues to link his advisers to Russia, U.S. President Donald Trump reopened his front against the U.S. intelligence agencies whom he accused of leaking sensitive national security information to the media. Meanwhile, TheNew York Times reported, based on interviews with unnamed serving and retired intelligence officials, that Mr. Trump’s “aides and associates made repeated contact with senior Russian officials during the 2016 campaign”.
Several Republican congressional leaders want further explanation on the circumstances that led to the resignation of Michael Flynn — a trusted Trump aide — on Monday as the National Security Adviser.
Speaker Paul Ryan, has on the other hand, commended Mr. Trump for sacking Mr. Flynn. Mr. Flynn was asked to leave after it emerged that he had misled the White House on his phone calls with the Russian envoy to the U.S.
Attacks on media
As Democrats and some Republicans found a common cause in putting him in the dock over his administration’s eagerness to warm up to Russia, Mr. Trump responded through a series of tweets on Wednesday, naming Washington Post , New York Times , CNN and MSNBC by name. “Information is being illegally given to the failing @nytimes & @washingtonpost by the intelligence community (NSA and FBI?) Just like Russia,” the President said.
“The real scandal here is that classified information is illegally given out by “intelligence” like candy. Very un-American!,” Mr. Trump said, in another tweet. He also thanked a commentator who said “the NSA & FBI... should not interfere in our politics”. Responding to allegations that he is being soft on Russia, Mr. Trump said: “Crimea was TAKEN by Russia during the Obama Administration. Was Obama too soft on Russia?” “This Russian connection non-sense is merely an attempt to cover-up the many mistakes made in Hillary Clinton’s losing campaign,” he said.
Mr. Trump had rolled back his confrontation with the country’s security agencies after assuming office, but it is back to square one now. His press secretary Sean Spicer said it was a big concern for the President that information was being leaked from these agencies.
The White House spokesperson also emphasised that the current administration’s Russia policy is in alignment with the policy laid down by former President Barack Obama.
“The irony of this entire situation is that the President has been incredibly tough on Russia. He continues to raise the issue of Crimea, which the previous administration had allowed to be seized by Russia. His Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, stood before the UN Security Council on her first day and strongly denounced the Russian occupation of Crimea,” Mr. Spicer said.
The last word has not yet been uttered on the Russia links despite Mr. Flynn’s exit. “Gen. Flynn’s resignation is not the end of the story. It is merely the beginning,” Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer said, adding that his resignation raises more questions that it answers. He said the questions remains whether Mr. Flynn was authorised by Mr. Trump; Mr. Spicer had said the President had not. While Democrats want an independent investigation, the Republicans could settle for a legislative probe. “The intelligence committee is already looking at Russian involvement in our election,” said Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader.
Published - February 16, 2017 12:37 am IST
