Former CIA Director on Trump: ‘I'm not going to be intimidated’

Russian Interference in the 2016 Election - The intelligence community leaders released declassified information regarding Russian interference in the 2016 election, alleging attempts to undermine the election's integrity and harm Hillary Clinton [1] - Russia aimed to both bloody Hillary Clinton before and after the election and to aid Donald Trump's election prospects through an influence campaign using information operations [2] - Russian influence operations involved bots, personas, hacking into emails (DNC), and disseminating information through Wikileaks, but did not change any votes [3] - The intelligence community assessment at the time indicated no information regarding the impact of Russian interference on the election and did not mention collusion [4] Intelligence Community Response and Integrity - The Obama administration directed the intelligence community to avoid actions that could affect the election outcome or release reports naming American citizens [5] - Former intelligence community leaders emphasize their commitment to carrying out their responsibilities with integrity, citing over 80 years of combined experience [6] - The intelligence community issued an assessment at President Obama's direction to warn about Russian interference, which has been a long-standing issue in democratic elections, including attempts in France [7] Partisan Politics and Deflection - Despite reviews by Republicans and Democrats validating the intelligence community's work, some Republicans under Trump dismissed it as a hoax, while current administration leaders are seen as deflecting [8] - A list of individuals targeted by Donald Trump includes political leaders, former presidents, entertainment figures, and civil rights activists, reflecting a sensitivity to criticism and facts [9][10] - Individuals on the list have spoken out against the Trump administration, indicating a punitive nature to the policies and actions, but a determination not to be intimidated [11] - Partisan politics have unfortunately infiltrated the highest levels of the intelligence community, creating a divide between former and current directors [12] Importance of Speaking Out - It is crucial to continue speaking out and disseminating information about the events of 2016 and the ongoing threat of Russian interference in elections [13] - The fact that former intelligence community professionals like Brennan, Clapper, and Comey are speaking out, despite being targeted, highlights the existential threat to the government [13][15] - Their decision to raise their voices and not remain silent could encourage others to stand up and do the same [15]