The US presidential campaign seems to have teleported in 2016 … The US Congress estimates that the Russians are once again at work underground, to favor Donald Trump and his favorite democratic rival, Bernie Sanders.
The Republican billionaire denounced, Friday, February 21, as a "Masquerade" however, this information came from its own intelligence services. "Another campaign of disinformation is launched by the Democrats of the Congress, assuring that Russia prefers me rather than one of the democrats-who-do-nothing", the US president tweeted.
Another misinformation campaign is being launched by Democrats in Congress saying that Russia prefers me to any of… https://t.co/uEFp9022it
This controversy provides a feeling of return four years back: same protagonists, same context of electoral campaign and same fury of the ex-tycoon of the real estate, very susceptible as soon as one evokes his proximity with Vladimir Poutine. The Russian president had clearly confirmed in July 2018 that he wanted Donald Trump to win in 2016, while categorically denying the involvement of his agents.
Later Friday in an election rally in Las Vegas, Trump again rejected the idea that Putin would like to see him re-elected. "Wouldn't he prefer, say, Bernie (Sanders) ? "asked the American president, quoting the Socialist senator from Vermont, currently leading the polls for the Democratic primary.
The latter would have been the target of interference from Moscow in his favor, the daily daily assured Washington Post. Information that prompted Mr. Sanders to insure "Do not consider Vladimir Putin as a good friend, unlike Donald Trump". “Frankly, I don't care who Putin wants as president. My message to Putin is clear: stay away from the US elections ", said the senator.
By helping Mr. Sanders, would the Russians actually be looking to help Mr. Trump? The question deserves to be asked as the president seems convinced of an easier victory against this candidate older than him and very left, who will find it difficult to seduce the centrists.
Russia speaks of "paranoia"
The revelation of new Moscow interference was made to congressmen during a briefing supposed to remain confidential.
The president was particularly angry at the presence at this briefing, dating back to February 13, of Adam Schiff, the Democrat who led the investigation triggering his indictment in Congress. A process that ultimately resulted in the acquittal of Mr. Trump. As a result of which the master of the White House announced Wednesday the dismissal of his acting chief of intelligence, Joe Maguire, and his replacement by one of his followers. It was indeed a colleague of Mr. Maguire, Shelby Pierson, who briefed parliamentarians, including Mr. Schiff.
The latter reacted Thursday evening by accusing Donald Trump of willingly accepting this illegal Russian aid. "If the information is true and the president interferes with it, then he is again jeopardizing our efforts to stop any foreign interference. Just like we warned he would ", tweeted Adam Schiff.
For its part, Russia put Friday on the account of the "Paranoia" accusations by US intelligence officials, the details of which are not yet known. "It has nothing to do with the truth"said Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov denouncing "New paranoid messages which unfortunately will be more and more frequent as the election approaches" in the USA. Moscow has always denied any involvement in the 2016 presidential election, using Russian hackers and "trolls" on social media, despite a consensus of US federal agencies on the subject.
