A report released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence in the US, has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is likely directed efforts to try to swing the 2020 U.S. presidential election to Donald Trump.
According to the 15-page report the findings would likely trigger U.S. sanctions on Moscow. The report further said that long standing allegations on some of Trump’s top lieutenants were playing into Moscow’s hands.
This according to the report is by amplifying claims made against then-candidate Joe Biden by Russian-linked Ukrainian figures in the run-up to the Nov. 3 election.
It also added new findings that Putin either oversaw or at least approved of the election meddling to benefit Trump. The findings on Putin’s role might trigger further attention as Russia has backed up various figures into power including the Ukranian parliamentarian Andriy Derkach.
The report said, “Putin had purview over the activities of Andriy Derkach. Other senior officials also participated in Russia’s election influence efforts – including senior national security and intelligence officials who we assess would not act without receiving at least Putin’s tacit approval.”
Previously, the U.S. intelligence agencies and former Special Counsel Robert Mueller had concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 US election to boost Trump’s candidacy. Campaigns marred with propaganda were aimed at harming his opponent Hillary Clinton