Vladimir Putin personally directed elements of the Russian hack of the US election as part of a “vendetta” against Hillary Clinton, according to a new report from NBC News.
Intelligence officials say they have a “high level of confidence” that the Russian president took charge of how material stolen from the Democrats would be leaked.
The officials said they have compelling evidence that Mr Putin was involved, and that the operation could not have gone forward without authorisation from the most senior leaders within the Kremlin.
One official said Mr Putin was motivated both by a “vendetta” against Mrs Clinton, and also hoped to undermine faith in the US political system among America’s partners.
Mr Putin hoped to “split off key American allies by creating the image that [other countries] couldn’t depend on the U.S. to be a credible global leader anymore,” the source told NBC.
CIA officials had previously said their assessment was that Russia intervened in the election in order to help Donald Trump.
Mr Trump has called that conclusion “ridiculous”, and insists that there is “no evidence” tying Russia to the hack despite assurances to the contrary from all 17 US intelligence agencies.
Both Democratic and Republican officials have called for an investigation into Russia’s role in the hack, and some have expressed concerns over Mr Trump’s defence of Russia.
Rex Tillerson, the president-elect’s nominee for secretary of state, had close links to Russia as CEO of Exxon Mobile, and personally received an award from Mr Putin.
Mr Trump has taken an antagonistic stance with US intelligence agencies, and has been receiving intelligence briefings far less frequently than his predecessors.
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