Donald Trump dismisses 'ridiculous' reports Russian hacking intervened in US election
Updated
US President-elect Donald Trump has rejected as "ridiculous" reported US intelligence findings that Russia intervened in the presidential election on his behalf through targeted hacking.
Key points:
- Mr Trump blames Democrats for the Russia hacking reports
- Republicans among those expressing concern over Russian hacking
- Moscow denies all accusations
The Republican President-elect's comments pit him against some leading foreign policy voices in the US Senate from his own party, who on Sunday expressed alarm about election meddling by Moscow.
"I think it's ridiculous. I think it's just another excuse. I don't believe it," Mr Trump said in an interview on Fox News Sunday.
He blamed Democrats for putting out the media reports and said he did not believe they came from the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Mr Trump's dismissal was perhaps aimed at squashing doubts about whether he won the November 8 election fairly.
However, his comments could also lead to conflict between the President-elect and the intelligence agencies he will command, and feed criticism that his administration will be soft on Russia.
The Republican real estate magnate was expected to appoint as secretary of state Exxon Mobil Corp chief Rex Tillerson, who has close ties with Moscow and has spoken out against US sanctions on Russia.
US intelligence agencies have told Congress and the administration of President Barack Obama that Russia has grown increasingly aggressive in Syria and Ukraine and has stepped up activities in cyberspace including meddling, sometimes covertly, in European and US elections.
'High confidence' Russia interfered
A senior US intelligence official told Reuters intelligence agencies have concluded with "high confidence" that not only did their Russian counterparts direct the hacking of Democratic Party organisations and leaders, but they did so to undermine Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
The Republican President-elect questioned whether the CIA was behind the reports that indicated Moscow wanted him in the White House.
"I think the Democrats are putting it out," he said in the interview.
Leading Republican voice on foreign policy in the US Senate, John McCain, urged Mr Trump to accept that Russia interfered in the presidential election.
"The facts are there," Senator McCain said in a television interview on CBS program Face the Nation.
Senator McCain and Republican Lindsey Graham joined two Democratic senators in releasing a statement expressing concern.
"For years, foreign adversaries have directed cyber attacks at America's physical, economic, and military infrastructure, while stealing our intellectual property. Now our democratic institutions have been targeted," the senators, including Democrats Chuck Schumer and Jack Reed, said.
"Recent reports of Russian interference in our election should alarm every American.
"This cannot become a partisan issue. The stakes are too high for our country."
Reince Priebus, the Republican Party leader Mr Trump picked to be his chief of staff in the White House, attacked the news reports for relying on unidentified sources and denied a New York Times report that the Republican National Committee was hacked.
Russian officials have denied all accusations of interference in the US election.
Trump questions 'one China' policy
Also in the Fox News interview, Mr Trump questioned whether the US had to be bound by its long-standing position that Taiwan was part of "one China" and brushed aside Beijing's concerns about his decision to accept a phone call from Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen.
"I fully understand the 'one China' policy, but I don't know why we have to be bound by a 'one China' policy unless we make a deal with China having to do with other things, including trade," Mr Trump said.
Mr Trump's decision to accept a congratulatory telephone call from Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen on December 2 prompted a diplomatic protest from Beijing, which considers Taiwan a renegade province.
His questioning of long-standing US policy risks antagonising Beijing further and analysts have said it could provoke military confrontation with China if pressed too far.
During the interview he said it was not up to Beijing to decide whether he should take a call from Taiwan's leader.
"I don't want China dictating to me and this was a call put in to me," he said.
"It was a very nice call. Short. And why should some other nation be able to say I can't take a call?
"I think it actually would've been very disrespectful, to be honest with you, not taking it."
Beijing had no immediate comment on Mr Trump's remarks.
Reuters
Topics: world-politics, government-and-politics, us-elections, hacking, computers-and-technology, united-states, russian-federation
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