Intel officials warned House lawmakers Russia is interfering to get Trump reelected: NYT

Intelligence officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia is interfering in the 2020 campaign to get President TrumpDonald John TrumpTucker Carlson assures viewers his show 'not going anywhere' following presidential election Trump senior advisers dissuaded president from military strike on Iran: report Senators clash on the floor over wearing masks: 'I don't need your instruction' MORE reelected, The New York Times reported Thursday.

The Feb. 13 briefing by top election security officials at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) to the House Intelligence Committee reportedly prompted Trump to berate now-former acting DNI Joseph MaguireJoseph MaguireRetired Navy admiral behind bin Laden raid says he voted for Biden Congressional Democrats request FBI briefing on foreign election interference efforts Wells Fargo told employees to delete TikTok from work phones MORE, accusing him of disloyalty for allowing the briefing.

Trump reportedly worried Democrats would use the intelligence information against him, particularly citing concerns with House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffDevin Nunes fends off Democratic opponent in California Trump begins Election Day with confident predictions on Fox News The Memo: Tense and fractured nation braces for Election Day MORE (Calif.), one of the Democrats who led the impeachment investigation against him, being present during the briefing.

Maguire is now set to step down as acting DNI. He will be replaced by U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell. Trump thanked Maguire for his service on Wednesday in announcing the change, tweeting “we look forward to working with him closely, perhaps in another capacity within the Administration!”

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and a spokesperson for Schiff did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Times report.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck SchumerChuck SchumerBiden could lose Georgia Senate races all by himself Puerto Rico's statehood piques Congress's interest post-election Feds charge Staten Island man over threat to Schumer, FBI MORE (D-N.Y.) tweeted Thursday that "now we know why" Republicans in the Senate continue blocking election security bills, linking to the New York Times article.

The Washington Post reported earlier Thursday that Shelby Pierson, the principal adviser at ODNI for election security and the intelligence community’s Election Threats Executive, led last week's congressional briefing.

Pierson was appointed by former DNI Dan CoatsDaniel (Dan) Ray CoatsLobbying world President Trump: To know him is to 'No' him Avoiding the 1876 scenario in November MORE in 2019. Coats left the administration that same year after disagreements with Trump over issues including election security.

Pierson told NPR last month that she was concerned about interference in the 2020 elections from multiple nations.

"This isn't a Russia-only problem," Pierson said on "Morning Edition."

"We're still also concerned about China, Iran, non-state actors, 'hacktivists.' And frankly ... even Americans might be looking to undermine confidence in the elections," Pierson added.

A spokesperson for Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard BurrRichard Mauze BurrRick Scott running to chair Senate GOP campaign arm As Trump downplayed the virus publicly, memo based on private briefings sparked stock sell-offs: NYT Hillicon Valley: Subpoenas for Facebook, Google and Twitter on the cards | Wray rebuffs mail-in voting conspiracies | Reps. raise mass surveillance concerns MORE (R-N.C.) declined to comment on the Times story. Burr, along with Committee Vice Chair Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerIt's time for Congress to act: Save jobs and stabilize the aerospace industry Democratic senators urge Facebook to take action on anti-Muslim bigotry Warner blames Democratic losses on 'defund the police' MORE (D-Va.), led a years-long bipartisan investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 elections, with three reports from this investigation released so far, and two more to come.

House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie ThompsonBennie Gordon ThompsonHeads roll as Trump launches post-election purge House Democrats introduce bill to invest 0 billion in STEM research and education Long-shot Espy campaign sees national boost in weeks before election MORE (D-Miss.) on Thursday said Trump "has been in denial about foreign election interference for three years because his ego cannot accept that Russia interfered on his behalf."

 

"By firing Acting DNI Maguire because his staff provided the candid conclusions of the Intelligence Community to Congress regarding Russian meddling in the 2020 Presidential election, the President is not only refusing to defend against foreign interference, he’s inviting it," Thompson said in a statement.