Homeland Security’s Nielsen reintroduces doubt over Russia’s goal in 2016 election

Reuters
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen speaks to reporters Tuesday after she joined FBI Director Christopher Wray and Director of National Intelligence Daniel Coats in briefing members of the House of Representatives on election security.
‘I don’t.’

In response to a question from CNN’s Manu Raju about whether she herself had faith in the “high confidence” assessment in early 2017 by the CIA, FBI, NSA and DNI that the Kremlin sought to undermine public faith in the democratic process, denigrate Clinton and bolster Trump, Nielsen said:

‘That the specific intent was to help President Trump win — I’m not aware of that.’

Trump, Nielsen said, has been clear that he takes the threat of foreign election encroachment seriously. “That,” she said, “is why we’re here today.”