President Trump: US Intelligence Did Not Find Reports About Russian Bounties On US Troops 'Credible'

Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or @VP. Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax, maybe by the Fake News @nytimesbooks, wanting to make Republicans look bad!!! https://t.co/cowOmP7T1S

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 29, 2020

Business Insider: Trump says US intelligence did not find reports about Russian bounties on US troops 'credible' and therefore did not report it to him

* President Donald Trump on Sunday denied knowing that US intelligence suspected Russia of secretly offering bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill coalition forces in Afghanistan.
* The New York Times detailed the allegations on Friday and cited unnamed intelligence officials as saying Trump was made aware of the matter in March but chose not to act.
* In a tweet on Sunday, Trump said US intel "did not find this info credible" and did not report it to him or Vice President Mike Pence. He called the Times report "possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax."

President Donald Trump on Sunday denied knowing that US intelligence suspected Russia of secretly offering bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill American troops.

The New York Times on Friday detailed the allegations on Friday, citing unnamed intelligence officials as saying that Russia was thought to have covertly offered money to Taliban-linked militants to kill coalition forces in Afghanistan. The officials told The Times that Trump was made aware of the matter in March but chose not to act.

On Saturday, the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, said neither Trump nor Vice President Mike Pence had been briefed on the intelligence.

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WNU Editor: More details are emerging on this Russian bounty story, and what is emerging makes me wonder even more on why this is even a story (aside the politics of it all). Bottom line. This story came to the attention of US intelligence because of the discovery of a large quantity of U.S. cash during a raid on a Taliban outpost, and the testimony of some Taliban/criminal prisoners. That's it. Memo to those who may not know. US cash is everywhere in the world. Just because you have it does not mean it comes from Russia. And even if it is from Russia, so what. Russia has a huge heroin problem, and I suspect that the Taliban will want to be paid in US dollars instead of Russian rubles. And as for the testimony ..... it is from low level Taliban prisoners and criminals. Criminals?!?!?!

Update: Dissenting opinions? .... White House says 'dissenting opinions' on intelligence that Russia paid bounties to kill American troops (Yahoo News). I would love to hear them make their case that Russia paid bounties for the killing of US soldiers. But here is an easy prediction. We will not hear from them. Top Congressional leaders were briefed about this story early today, and they have been silent ever since the briefing. If this story had legs, they will be leaking all the juicy details by now.

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