Director of the FBI: Russia is seriously challenging US counterintelligence

Christopher Ray, director of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, said Friday that Moscow’s continued intervention in the US election process is a serious political threat and challenge to counterintelligence, writes Voice of America.

Photo: Facebook FBI - Federal Bureau of Investigation

Referring to the presence of Russian intelligence in the United States and the history of Kremlin operations to exert subversive political influence, Ray emphasized in his speech to the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington that Moscow will continue to adapt to the changing situation and improve its tactics.

After it became aware of Russia's interference in the US presidential election in 2016, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and other intelligence agencies set up opposition task forces with a temporary mandate. However, after the administration of President Donald Trump found that Russia's intervention had become a constant threat, these task forces received a permanent mandate. According to Ray, US intelligence agencies view Russia's actions during the US congressional elections in 2018 as a rehearsal for the real performance in 2020, the presidential election.

The “Russia investigation” topic became dominant in the American media immediately after the 2016 presidential election. It was fueled by information that emerged during special counsel Robert Mueller's nearly two-year investigation. In his report, the special counsel did not find evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin, but the very fact of Russian interference is considered proven. Mueller declined to rule on whether Trump obstructed justice, leaving the issue open.

The New York Times notesthat while senior officials in the US administration are trying to counter, block and weaken Russian intelligence operations, they nevertheless complain about the lack of high-level coordination. Trump pays little attention to warnings about the threat of continued Russian intervention, the newspaper writes, as the president perceives any discussion on this topic as an encroachment on the legitimacy of his victory in the presidential election in 2016.

Read also on ForumDaily:

The US State Department reacted to Putin’s decision to distribute Russian passports to Ukrainians.

The court in the United States issued a sentence to the Russian spy Butina: she has already served half of the term

Trump plans to abandon nuclear weapons: what to expect from Russia and China

Was the espionage: the FBI revealed details of Butina’s plan in the USA?

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.