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A2 UP FRONT
Saturday 22 February 2020
emails from Democratic
accounts. They say Russia
was trying to boost Trump's
campaign and add chaos
to the American political
process. Special counsel
Robert Mueller concluded
that Russian interference
was "sweeping and sys-
tematic," but he did not
find a criminal conspiracy
between Russia and the
Trump campaign.
Republican lawmakers
who were in last week's
briefing by the DNI's chief
election official, Shelby
Pierson, pushed back by
noting that Trump has been
To our readers and clients: In lieu of Car- President Donald Trump gestures as he walks offstage after tough on Russia, one of the
naval 66 celebrations, Aruba Today will speaking at a campaign rally, Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, in Las Ve- officials said.
not be published on Monday, February gas. While Trump has imposed
24th, 2020. We will resume normal opera- Associated Press severe economic sanc-
tions on Tuesday, February 25th, 2020. tions on Russia, he also has
Continued from front Dmitry Peskov said Friday spoken warmly of Russian
As always we appreciate your support The officials, who asked for that the allegations are leader Vladimir Putin and
and enjoy Aruba’s No.1 tourist attraction anonymity to discuss sensi- "paranoid reports that, un- withdrawn troops from ar-
after us, Carnaval 66! tive intelligence, said Thurs- fortunately, there will be eas, like Syria, where Mos-
day that the briefing last more and more of as we cow could fill the vacuum.
week focused on Russia's get closer to the elections He delayed military aid last
efforts to influence the 2020 (in the U.S.). Of course, they year to Ukraine, a Russian
election and sow discord in have nothing to do with adversary — a decision
the American electorate. the truth." that was at the core of his
The intelligence warning House Speaker Nancy Pe- impeachment proceed-
was first reported by The losi tweeted that, "Ameri- ings.
New York Times and The can voters should decide The Times said Trump was
Washington Post. American elections — not angry that the House brief-
A senior administration of- Vladimir Putin." She added ing was made before Schiff,
ficial told The Associated that all members of Con- the panel's chairman, who
Press that the news infuriat- gress "should condemn the led the impeachment pro-
ed Trump, who complained President's reported efforts ceedings.
that Democrats would use to dismiss threats to the in- Trump on Thursday formally
the information against tegrity of our democracy & appointed Grenell, the U.S.
him. Over the course of to politicize our intel com- ambassador to Germany,
his presidency, Trump has munity." to replace Maguire as the
dismissed the intelligence Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., new acting director of na-
community's assessment of the chairman of the House tional intelligence. Maguire
Russia's 2016 election inter- intelligence committee, was required to step down
ference as a conspiracy to tweeted: "We count on soon under federal law
undermine his victory. The the intelligence commu- governing acting appoint-
official spoke on the con- nity to inform Congress of ments. The Times cited two
dition of anonymity to de- any threat of foreign inter- administration officials as
scribe the private meeting. ference in our elections. saying the timing, after the
A day after the Feb. 13 If reports are true and the intelligence briefing, was
briefing to the House com- President is interfering with coincidental.
mittee, Trump berated the that, he is again jeopardiz- Grenell's background is
then-director of national ing our efforts to stop for- primarily in politics and
intelligence, Joseph Magu- eign meddling. Exactly as media affairs. He lacks the
ire, and he announced this we warned he would do." extensive national security
week that Maguire would U.S. intelligence agencies and military experience of
be replaced by Richard say Russia interfered in the Maguire, as well as previ-
Grenell, a Trump loyalist. 2016 election through so- ous holders of the position
Moscow denied any med- cial media campaigns and overseeing the nation's 17
dling. Kremlin spokesman stealing and distributing intelligence agencies. q
