While Republicans are pushing the idea that the intelligence community is in disagreement, the FBI has removed any doubt about their position on Russian actions in the 2016 election.
FBI Director James B. Comey and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper have backed a CIA assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 election in part to help Donald Trump win the presidency, according to U.S. officials.
Comey’s support for the CIA’s conclusion suggests that the leaders of the three agencies are in agreement on Russian intentions, contrary to suggestions by some lawmakers that the FBI disagreed with the CIA.
Trump was still expressing doubt about Russian involvement on Thursday, and Republicans are still making statements about a disagreement between the FBI and CIA. But this disagreement is imaginary.
CIA and FBI officials don’t think Russia had a “single purpose” by intervening during the presidential campaign. In addition to helping Trump, intelligence officials have told lawmakers that Moscow’s other goal included undermining confidence in the U.S. electoral system.
That the purpose was to elect Trump
and to undermine democracy doesn’t not mean that opinions are divided. And it’s certainly not a reason
to celebrate.