US intel chief stands by assessment of Russian meddling

Military Times: The top U.S. intelligence official on Monday stood by what he called “clear” assessments of Russian meddling in the 2016 election after President Donald Trump cast doubt on that conclusion following a summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

The statement from Dan Coats, the director of national intelligence, did not directly reference Trump’s comments at a news conference alongside Putin in Helsinki. But it came just two-and-a-half hours after Trump said that while he had “great confidence” in U.S. intelligence, Putin’s denial of election meddling was “extremely strong and powerful.”

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