THERE are no signs that Russia is targeting this year’s US midterm elections with the same “scale or scope” as it targeted the 2016 presidential election, says Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen.
She was speaking at a convention of state secretaries of state, an event which came amid fresh allegations into Russia’s attempts to sway the 2016 election.
Nielsen said her agency will help state and local election officials prepare their systems for cyber-attacks from Russia or elsewhere.
She said US intelligence officials are seeing “persistent Russian efforts using social media, sympathetic spokespeople and other fronts to sow discord and divisiveness amongst the American people, though not necessarily focused on specific politicians or political campaigns”.
The convention came between Friday’s indictments of 12 Russian military intelligence officers alleged to have hacked into Democratic party accounts, and today’s meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump has not condemned Russia over meddling in the 2016 election despite the findings of US intelligence. In the past, Trump has reiterated Putin’s denials, but this week he said he would bring up the issue when they meet.
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