According to CNN, President-elect Donald Trump told a crowd gathered for New Year's Eve celebrations at his Mar-A-Lago estate, he "know[s] things that other people don't know" about the alleged Russian cyber meddling in the 2016 election.
Trump promised to reveal what he knows this week, but reiterated that he has doubts about Russian involvement. He has also scheduled an intelligence briefing this week in the aftermath of President Barack Obama's imposed sanction against Russia for the alleged hacking. From CNN:
"I just want them to be sure, because it's a pretty serious charge, and I want them to be sure. And if you look at the weapons of mass destruction, that was a disaster, and they were wrong," Trump said, referencing failed intelligence in the lead-up to the Iraq War as a reason for skepticism."I think it's unfair if they don't know," he said. "And I know a lot about hacking. And hacking is a very hard thing to prove."
Trump has dismissed intelligence reports from both the CIA and FBI that claim Russia meddled in the election to help Trump defeat his opponent, Hillary Clinton. Russia has denied the allegations of cyberintrustion that targeted the Democratic National Committee and the private emails of Clinton confidante and campaign chair, John Podesta.
Last week, Trump praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for not issuing retaliatory sanctions against the U.S. in response to Obama's move to close two Russian-owned compounds in the U.S. and evacuate Russian political operatives and their families. According to CNN, Trump's position on the alleged hacking is not shared with some influential members of the GOP:
Trump's stance has put him at odds with most congressional Republicans, who have argued for a tougher stance on Russia. Sen. John McCain, the Republican chairman of the Armed Services Committee, will convene a hearing on cyber-threats Thursday.
The president-elect is scheduled to return to Washington, D.C. sometime Sunday.
