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| US election 2020: China, Russia and Iran 'trying to influence' vote | US election 2020: China, Russia and Iran 'trying to influence' vote |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| China, Russia and Iran are among countries seeking to influence the US presidential election this year, a top US intelligence chief has warned. | China, Russia and Iran are among countries seeking to influence the US presidential election this year, a top US intelligence chief has warned. |
| A statement issued by the director of US counterintelligence said foreign states are using "covert and overt influence measures" to sway the vote. | A statement issued by the director of US counterintelligence said foreign states are using "covert and overt influence measures" to sway the vote. |
| These nations "have a preference for who wins the election," it added. | These nations "have a preference for who wins the election," it added. |
| US intelligence chiefs say that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help President Donald Trump's campaign. | US intelligence chiefs say that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to help President Donald Trump's campaign. |
| Russia has denied the allegations. | Russia has denied the allegations. |
| Asked at a press conference on Friday what he planned to do about the report on election interference, President Trump said his administration would look "very closely" into it. | |
| The announcement comes amid claims by Mr Trump about the dangers of mail-in or postal ballots. He has suggested that the vote be delayed to prevent "the most inaccurate and fraudulent election in history", prompting a backlash even among members of his own party. | |
| It also follows complaints by Democratic lawmakers that US intelligence agencies are not releasing information to the public about foreign interference in this year's vote. | It also follows complaints by Democratic lawmakers that US intelligence agencies are not releasing information to the public about foreign interference in this year's vote. |
| The Republican president Mr Trump is seeking to win a second term in office. His challenger is Democratic candidate and former vice president Joe Biden. | The Republican president Mr Trump is seeking to win a second term in office. His challenger is Democratic candidate and former vice president Joe Biden. |
| What does the statement say? | What does the statement say? |
| William Evanina, head of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), released the statement on Friday. | William Evanina, head of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), released the statement on Friday. |
| Foreign countries are trying to sway voter preferences, change US policies, "increase discord" in the country "and undermine the American people's confidence in our democratic process", Mr Evanina said. | Foreign countries are trying to sway voter preferences, change US policies, "increase discord" in the country "and undermine the American people's confidence in our democratic process", Mr Evanina said. |
| The counterintelligence chief however added that it would be "difficult for our adversaries to interfere with or manipulate voting results at scale." | The counterintelligence chief however added that it would be "difficult for our adversaries to interfere with or manipulate voting results at scale." |
| Many countries "have a preference for who wins the election", he said, but the counterintelligence director said they were "primarily concerned" about China, Russia and Iran: | Many countries "have a preference for who wins the election", he said, but the counterintelligence director said they were "primarily concerned" about China, Russia and Iran: |
| At Friday's press conference, Mr Trump said Russia "could be" meddling in this year's election, but dismissed the idea the country might be trying to help him win a second term. "I think the last person Russia wants to see in office is Donald Trump," he said, saying that "nobody's been tougher on Russia than I have, ever." | |
| The release of the statement comes after members of the Democratic party voiced concern about attempts by foreign nations to influence the vote. | The release of the statement comes after members of the Democratic party voiced concern about attempts by foreign nations to influence the vote. |
| US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday said the intelligence about current efforts to sway the vote "should be available to the American people". | US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday said the intelligence about current efforts to sway the vote "should be available to the American people". |
| In his statement, Mr Evanina said his agency "has and will continue to provide classified election threat briefings" to candidates and politicians. | In his statement, Mr Evanina said his agency "has and will continue to provide classified election threat briefings" to candidates and politicians. |
| "The steps we have taken thus far to inform the public and other stakeholders on election threats are unprecedented for the IC [Intelligence community]." | "The steps we have taken thus far to inform the public and other stakeholders on election threats are unprecedented for the IC [Intelligence community]." |
| What happened in 2016? | What happened in 2016? |
| A number of US intelligence agencies and officials have concluded that Russia helped influence the 2016 presidential election. | A number of US intelligence agencies and officials have concluded that Russia helped influence the 2016 presidential election. |
| Former FBI director Robert Mueller - appointed as a special counsel to investigate that vote - did not establish that Mr Trump colluded with that effort, but said the president was not exonerated by his report. | Former FBI director Robert Mueller - appointed as a special counsel to investigate that vote - did not establish that Mr Trump colluded with that effort, but said the president was not exonerated by his report. |
| A number of people on Mr Trump's campaign have been jailed due to a variety of charges linked to Mr Mueller's investigation. | A number of people on Mr Trump's campaign have been jailed due to a variety of charges linked to Mr Mueller's investigation. |
| Charges against ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn - convicted of lying about contacts with Russian government officials - were dropped in July. An appeals court will rehear arguments later this month. | Charges against ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn - convicted of lying about contacts with Russian government officials - were dropped in July. An appeals court will rehear arguments later this month. |
| And Roger Stone, a long-time ally of Mr Trump, had his jail sentence for witness tampering and lying to Congress commuted the president in July. | And Roger Stone, a long-time ally of Mr Trump, had his jail sentence for witness tampering and lying to Congress commuted the president in July. |