US pulls apart center aimed at countering ‘Russian influence’
(MENAFN) The US government plans to scale back the Foreign Malign Influence Center (FMIC), an intelligence unit created to counter foreign interference following claims of Russian meddling in US elections. The decision is part of President Donald Trump’s broader efforts to reduce federal spending and depoliticize government agencies.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced Wednesday that FMIC’s core responsibilities will be transferred to other agencies, describing the center as “redundant.”
The FMIC was established by Congress in 2019 after allegations that Russia tried to influence the 2016 election, which Trump won. While Moscow denied any attempts to sway the vote, Trump and Republican officials have maintained that the claims were part of a Democratic strategy to delegitimize his victory.
Gabbard criticized the center and its predecessors, claiming they were used by the previous administration to suppress free speech and censor political opponents. Since mid-July, she has released documents suggesting a coordinated effort by senior Obama-era officials to falsely accuse Trump of colluding with Russia. She also stated that, contrary to previous reports, Moscow did not appear to favor any candidate in 2016.
According to Gabbard, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence became overly focused on elections in 2017 after the CIA produced a “manufactured” report alleging that Russian President Vladimir Putin wanted Trump to win.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
