US intelligence officials now believe that Russian President Vladimir Putin was personally involved in hacking during the American election campaign as part of a vendetta against Hillary Clinton, NBC News reported.
Putin personally instructed how material hacked from US Democrats was leaked and otherwise used, the US television network said, quoting two senior officials with access to this information.
The officials said they have a “high level of confidence” in this new assessment, NBC reported.
Last weekend The Washington Post reported a CIA evaluation that Russia had hacked the emails of US persons and institutions as a way to sway the election in favor of Republican Donald Trump, who eventually did beat Clinton on November 8.
Putin is said never to have forgiven Clinton — then secretary of state — for publicly questioning the integrity of parliamentary elections in 2011 in Russia, and accused her of encouraging street protests.
The intelligence officials told NBC that Putin’s goals in the alleged hacking began as revenge against Clinton.
But they transformed into a broader effort to show that the world of US politics was corrupt and to, in the words of one official, “split off key American allies by creating the image that (other countries) couldn’t depend on the US to be a credible global leader anymore.”
In preparation for possible retaliation, US intelligence agencies have intensified probing of Putin’s personal wealth, NBC said, citing US officials.
Trump, who has spoken warmly of Putin, has dismissed as “ridiculous” the allegation that Russia was behind the hacking of the Democratic National Committee and people close to Clinton.
Leading US lawmakers have called for a formal congressional investigation into the hacking.
968045 618047quite very good put up, i in fact adore this web internet site, maintain on it 738781
606932 634511As I internet site owner I feel the subject material here is real amazing, appreciate it for your efforts. 603106
375794 354945IE still is the market chief and a big component to people will leave out your excellent writing due to this problem. 4597
693909 858031This article contains fantastic original thinking. The informational content here proves that things arent so black and white. I feel smarter from just reading this. 915760
340056 769901I like this web web site its a master peace ! Glad I detected this on google . 912036