Senate Democrats are requesting a briefing on wire transfers intercepted by U.S. intelligence connected to reports of bounties being offered by Russian forces to incentivize Taliban-linked militants to kill U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
According to The New York Times, which first reported the intelligence last week, U.S. analysts concluded that large financial transfers intercepted by the U.S. were likely bounties from the GRU, Moscow's military intelligence agency, to the Taliban.
Sens. Sherrod Brown
Sherrod Campbell BrownOn The Money: Mnuchin, Powell differ over how soon economy will recover | Millions fear eviction without more aid from Congress | IRS chief pledges to work on tax code's role in racial wealth disparities IRS chief pledges to work with Congress on examining tax code's role in racial wealth disparities Millions fear eviction without more aid from Congress MORE (Ohio), Jack Reed
John (Jack) Francis ReedOvernight Defense: Democrats blast Trump handling of Russian bounty intel | Pentagon leaders set for House hearing July 9 | Trump moves forward with plan for Germany drawdown Top Senate Democrats request Esper, Pompeo testify over Russian bounties reports Senate Democrats raise concerns about debit cards used for stimulus payments MORE (R.I.) and Bob Menendez
Robert (Bob) MenendezGOP lawmakers voice support for Israeli plan to annex areas in West Bank Lighthizer denies Bolton claim that Trump asked Xi for election help GOP's Obama-era probes fuel Senate angst MORE (N.J.) — the Democratic ranking members of the Senate Banking, Armed Services and Foreign Relations committees, respectively — are asking to be briefed on the evidence obtained by the Department of the Treasury.
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“We request to be briefed by you directly within the next two days on these reports, including any intercept evidence developed by Treasury or other US government analysts to which FinCEN has access that would shed light on these allegations,” the lawmakers wrote in a Wednesday letter obtained by The Hill and addressed to Kenneth Blanco, director of the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the law enforcement branch of the Treasury Department.
According to the Times, analysts found that several Afghan businessmen who transferred money through the informal “hawala” system over the past six months served as middlemen for these transactions.
The transfers reportedly quelled disagreements among some intelligence officials on whether the initial intelligence about Russian bounties was credible, though administration officials have consistently said the allegations are unverified.
President Trump
Donald John TrumpUtah Lieutenant Gov. Cox leads Huntsman in close governor's race Trump tweets 'we all miss' Ailes after swiping at Fox Former NFL player Burgess Owens wins Utah GOP primary MORE says he was never briefed on the intelligence, though multiple reports have indicated it was included in his written President's Daily Brief. He has described the intelligence as “not credible” and a “hoax.”
The Russia Bounty story is just another made up by Fake News tale that is told only to damage me and the Republican Party. The secret source probably does not even exist, just like the story itself. If the discredited @nytimes has a source, reveal it. Just another HOAX!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 1, 2020
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have asked administration officials to explain what Trump knew about the threat and when he knew it.
National security adviser Robert O’Brien told Fox News that Trump knew nothing about the reports because his briefer “decided not to” share unverified intelligence with him.
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Senate Dems request briefing on Russian bounty wire transfers | TheHill - The Hill
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