Hastings’ statement on Trump rejection of CIA assessment
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — Recently (Dec. 12, 2016) , Congressman Alcee L. Hastings (D-FL) released the following statement in response to President-Elect Trump’s rejection of the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) assessment that Russia interfered with the U.S. election:
“Last week’s CIA assessment that Russia intervened in the 2016 Presidential Election is extremely alarming. Equally alarming is President-Elect Trump’s rejection of these findings and continuous denigration of the American intelligence community. Whether it is due to naivety or arrogance, the leader of the free world cannot afford to neglect facts for fiction.
“For President-Elect Trump to question the competence of the CIA and then appear on Fox News to boast that he declines daily intelligence briefings, because he is ‘like, a smart person’ is disgraceful. These intelligence briefings keep Americans safe, both here at home and abroad, and flippantly ignoring them is a callous dereliction of duty. President-Elect Trump has not even taken office, yet he is already playing games with American security and the safety of our citizens.”
“As Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission and the former Vice Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, I am deeply disturbed by the incoming administration’s admonition of the intelligence community. Congress must prioritize investigating and responding to Russia’s actions, and ensure that the incoming Commander-in-Chief has the best interests of America in mind.”
Congressman Alcee L. Hastings serves as Senior Member of the House Rules Committee, Ranking Democratic Member of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, and Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.
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