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Russia Looms Large as Senate Hears Testimony on Cyberthreats Russia Looms Large as Senate Hears Testimony on Cyberthreats
(35 minutes later)
WASHINGTON — The Senate Armed Services Committee convened on Thursday morning for a hearing on “foreign cyberthreats to the United States.” Of course, one foreign entity is destined to loom largest: Russia. WASHINGTON — The Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday formally addressed “foreign cyberthreats to the United States.” Of course, one foreign entity is destined to loom largest: Russia.
“Every American should be alarmed by Russia’s attack on our nation,” said Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona and chairman of the committee. He later called the Russian interference an “unprecedented attack on our democracy.” He said his aim was “not to question the outcome of the presidential election” but to move forward with a full understanding of what had happened.“Every American should be alarmed by Russia’s attack on our nation,” said Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona and chairman of the committee. He later called the Russian interference an “unprecedented attack on our democracy.” He said his aim was “not to question the outcome of the presidential election” but to move forward with a full understanding of what had happened.
The hearing arrived at an explosive moment. President-elect Donald J. Trump has continued to express doubts about Russia’s interference in the presidential election, placing him at odds with the intelligence agencies he will soon command and with several leading members of his own party. The hearing arrived at an explosive moment. President-elect Donald J. Trump has continued to express doubts about Russia’s interference in the election, placing him at odds with the intelligence agencies he will soon command and with several leading members of his own party.
Mr. McCain has made no secret of his belief that Russia was responsible for the election-related hacking, and his recent travels will not have eased his concerns about Russian aggression. He just returned from a New Year’s tour of countries that see themselves as threatened by Russia: Ukraine, Georgia and the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.Mr. McCain has made no secret of his belief that Russia was responsible for the election-related hacking, and his recent travels will not have eased his concerns about Russian aggression. He just returned from a New Year’s tour of countries that see themselves as threatened by Russia: Ukraine, Georgia and the Baltic republics of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat, also has taken a strong public stand in support of the intelligence agencies’ finding of Russian government interference. He noted on Twitter:Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, the ranking Democrat, also has taken a strong public stand in support of the intelligence agencies’ finding of Russian government interference. He noted on Twitter:
The group will hear testimony from James R. Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence; Marcel Lettre, the under secretary of defense for intelligence; and Adm. Michael S. Rogers, a leader of the National Security Agency and United States Cyber Command. The group is hearing testimony from James R. Clapper Jr., the director of national intelligence; Marcel Lettre, the under secretary of defense for intelligence; and Adm. Michael S. Rogers, a leader of the National Security Agency and United States Cyber Command.
Other Republicans on the committee include Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a close McCain ally and fellow hawk on Russia, and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.Other Republicans on the committee include Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a close McCain ally and fellow hawk on Russia, and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.
On the Democratic side, members include Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who is making her hearing debut after being named to the committee.On the Democratic side, members include Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who is making her hearing debut after being named to the committee.
Mr. McCain steered the conversation to Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, saying, “I believe he is the one who’s responsible for publishing the names of individuals who work for us who put us in direct danger.”Mr. McCain steered the conversation to Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks, saying, “I believe he is the one who’s responsible for publishing the names of individuals who work for us who put us in direct danger.”
“Do you think there’s any credibility we should attach to this individual?” Mr. McCain asked.“Do you think there’s any credibility we should attach to this individual?” Mr. McCain asked.
“Not in my view,” Mr. Clapper replied.“Not in my view,” Mr. Clapper replied.
Mr. McCain turned to Admiral Rogers. “I would second those comments,” he said.Mr. McCain turned to Admiral Rogers. “I would second those comments,” he said.
Asked by Mr. McCain whether hacking the American elections would be an attack on the United States, Mr. Clapper demurred. “Whether that constitutes an act of war is a very heavy call that I don’t think the intelligence community should make,” he said. But he called it a matter of “great gravity.”Asked by Mr. McCain whether hacking the American elections would be an attack on the United States, Mr. Clapper demurred. “Whether that constitutes an act of war is a very heavy call that I don’t think the intelligence community should make,” he said. But he called it a matter of “great gravity.”
Mr. McCain was sharply critical of what he described as the Obama administration’s failure to devise a clear-cut policy of deterrence and retaliation for cyberattacks, saying that at times the United States government appeared to be a “bystander.”Mr. McCain was sharply critical of what he described as the Obama administration’s failure to devise a clear-cut policy of deterrence and retaliation for cyberattacks, saying that at times the United States government appeared to be a “bystander.”
Senator Claire McCaskill, Democrat of Missouri, was the first to take direct aim at Mr. Trump, wondering aloud “who benefits from a president-elect trashing the intelligence community.”
Mr. Clapper said pointedly that there was “a difference between healthy skepticism” — a phrase Vice President-elect Mike Pence used in defending Mr. Trump’s criticism of the intelligence agencies — and “disparagement.”
“The intelligence community is not perfect,” Mr. Clapper added. “We are an organization of human beings and we’re prone sometimes to make errors.” But he referred to the wall of stars in the C.I.A. lobby commemorating the deaths of agency officers on duty and said the agencies’ efforts to keep the country safe are not always appreciated.
Ms. McCaskill said there would be “howls from the Republican side of the aisle” if a Democrat had spoken about intelligence officials as Mr. Trump has.
“Thank you for that nonpartisan comment,” Mr. McCain joked as she wrapped up.
Mr. Reed asked if the dissemination of “fake news” was part of the Russian effort to influence the election. Mr. Clapper said it was, calling the attack “a multifaceted campaign.”Mr. Reed asked if the dissemination of “fake news” was part of the Russian effort to influence the election. Mr. Clapper said it was, calling the attack “a multifaceted campaign.”
“The hacking was only one part of it,” Mr. Clapper said. “And it also entailed classical propaganda, disinformation, fake news.”“The hacking was only one part of it,” Mr. Clapper said. “And it also entailed classical propaganda, disinformation, fake news.”
“Does that continue?” Mr. Reed asked. Mr. Clapper said yes.“Does that continue?” Mr. Reed asked. Mr. Clapper said yes.
Mr. Clapper suggested that he would not be unveiling major new inside information on the intelligence agencies’ conclusion that the Russian government had directed the interference in the election.Mr. Clapper suggested that he would not be unveiling major new inside information on the intelligence agencies’ conclusion that the Russian government had directed the interference in the election.
Mr. Clapper said he knew there was “great interest” in Russian interference in the election, but he indicated that public curiosity might have to wait for the release of an unclassified report on the matter early next week. President Obama is being briefed today on the full, classified report, and Mr. Trump will get an identical briefing on Friday.Mr. Clapper said he knew there was “great interest” in Russian interference in the election, but he indicated that public curiosity might have to wait for the release of an unclassified report on the matter early next week. President Obama is being briefed today on the full, classified report, and Mr. Trump will get an identical briefing on Friday.
He has a tower in Manhattan. While keeping any scoops about the Russian attack for next week’s release, Mr. Clapper did promise to “push the envelope” in declassifying as much detail as possible, including the motive of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia in carrying it out. “We’ll be as forthcoming as we can, but there are some fragile and sensitive sources and methods here,” he said.
Most Republicans have avoided attacking Mr. Trump directly over his comments — even as he defended Mr. Assange at the expense of the intelligence agencies. But the hearing will offer a potent showcase for the agencies to defend their work.
They are likely to face little hostile questioning from lawmakers.
“The point of this hearing is to have the intelligence community reinforce from their point of view that the Russians did this,” Mr. Graham said on Wednesday.
In another possible preview of Thursday’s proceedings, Mr. Graham went on to attack Mr. Assange.
“You seem to have two choices now,” he told reporters. “Some guy living in an embassy, on the run from the law for rape, who has a history of undermining American democracy and releasing classified information to put our troops at risk. Or the 17 intelligence agencies sworn to defend us. I’m going with them.” (Mr. Assange has spent the last four years inside Ecuador’s embassy in London, where he sought asylum to avoid being turned over to Sweden for questioning in a sexual assault case.)
Yes, and even before the hearing started.
Mr. Trump issued a pre-emptive self-defense, blaming the “dishonest media” for saying he agreed with Mr. Assange.
“I simply state what he states,” Mr. Trump began, in the first of two Twitter posts, “it is for the people to make up their own minds as to the truth. The media lies to make it look like I am against ‘Intelligence’ when in fact I am a big fan!”
Yet Mr. Trump has repeatedly attacked the intelligence community in recent weeks, charging that their conclusions on the cyberattacks are no more reliable than their faulty finding that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and suggesting this week that officials were withholding information on the hackings because they did not yet have conclusive proof.
Given Mr. Trump’s past instincts when Russian interference is in the news — Twitter missives are common — the president-elect could feel compelled to appraise the hearings in real time as well.
Though senators from both parties, led by Mr. McCain and Mr. Graham on the Republican side, have called for a select committee to investigate Russian interference in the election, Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, has said a select committee was unnecessary.Though senators from both parties, led by Mr. McCain and Mr. Graham on the Republican side, have called for a select committee to investigate Russian interference in the election, Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, has said a select committee was unnecessary.
The Senate Intelligence Committee is “more than capable of conducting a complete review,” Mr. McConnell said last month, adding that Mr. McCain could also conduct an investigation on the Armed Services Committee.The Senate Intelligence Committee is “more than capable of conducting a complete review,” Mr. McConnell said last month, adding that Mr. McCain could also conduct an investigation on the Armed Services Committee.
Mr. McCain said on Wednesday: “We will have a subcommittee on cyber. It’s not a special panel.”Mr. McCain said on Wednesday: “We will have a subcommittee on cyber. It’s not a special panel.”