* NBC News on February 20th…
President Donald Trump pushed aside his acting director of national intelligence, Joseph Maguire, because he was angry about a briefing to lawmakers that said Russia is interfering in the 2020 election to aid his re-election, current and former intelligence officials briefed on the matter told NBC News.
At issue was an election briefing to House members last week by Shelby Pierson, the DNI’s election security czar. The news was first reported by The New York Times.
The fast-moving developments have caused serious concern among intelligence officials.
* The very next day, Gov. Pritzker sent President Trump a letter and cc’d the state’s Republican delegation. The governor cited reports like the NBC story above and pointed out the “widely confirmed” reports that Russia targeted Illinois’ election infrastructure during the 2016 election.
Pritzker then requested that DNI outline “all known threats to election systems so that Illinois can be as prepared as possible to ensure our election is protected from all hazards including foreign interference.” He did not, as far as I know, release the letter to the news media until I requested it this afternoon.
* The governor was asked about his letter today at an unrelated press conference…
Reporter: Republican congressmen say you’ve sent a letter to the president… They say that you got some facts wrong there, but they’re also saying that you need to focus on Illinois and [automatic voter registration] problems that are happening. Can you address that?
Pritzker: Well, they would like me not to focus on the fact that the President fired his DNI for telling the truth to Congress. These are republican congressmen that are speaking. What I’ve written a letter to the President about is to make sure that I get fully briefed on any kind of potential Russian hacking, or interference with our elections. I’ve been focused on this since before I took office. And Day One and in office I gathered people in my administration who are in charge of securing our elections to make sure we’re doing everything we can. But we need to get proper information from the intelligence community from the federal government. And it appears when the President is firing his DNI for telling the truth about Russian interference, that we’re not getting all of the information we need. So I insisted that we get that.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 1:37 pm:
“What I’ve written a letter to the President about is to make sure that I get fully briefed on any kind of potential Russian hacking, or interference with our elections.”
Hard to get help from someone who thinks Russian election interference is a hoax, especially when that person is openly soliciting foreign interference.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 1:48 pm:
It’s confusing to contemplate that a threat to the security of our elections with foreign interference is something the Trumpkin members of congress have “issue” with, and the concern is “facts”.
If you secure elections, and strive to secure them by being informed, how is this… bad.
At some point it should matter that this interference happened and is more than possible that it’s happening again, even as we speak.
- Out Here In The Middle - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 1:51 pm:
And the GOP . . . pardon me . . the Trumpian Congressmen fall in line.
- Fav human - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 1:54 pm:
You can’t hack Punch cards……
- Northsider - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:04 pm:
There’s a very clear line drawn here and Republicans are tripping over each other to line up on the wrong side. Duly noted.
- dbk - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:07 pm:
Such information should be provided as a matter of course to all states’ governors.
Gov. Pritzker’s ahead of the game here, but he’s definitely justified in asking for timely updates.
I don’t understand what the Rs’ objections were.
- Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:14 pm:
Secure elections should not be a partisan issue, and it’s bizarre that the Republicans have made it one.
Facts are such…inconvenient things.
- former southerner - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:19 pm:
Republican President Reagan was a major force in “winning” the cold war while many current GOP pols seem determined to negotiate a surrender to this previously settled conflict. Strange days indeed, maybe some future GOP leader will apologize to Japan for Pearl Harbor…
- Pundent - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:20 pm:
I’d be interested in knowing which Republican Congressmen have called out Pritzker on incorrect facts so we can clear those up (to the extent they are incorrect) and get more clarity on what the DNI has been saying.
- Ducky LaMoore - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:20 pm:
First, Pritzker is entirely right. But… did he cc only the IL Republican delegation or the entire IL congressional delegation? It would be odd if it were only the GOP.
- Louis G Atsaves - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:24 pm:
So when congressmen from both parties asked for examples of Russian interference or hacking, the intelligence folks briefing them were unable to cite any specific examples? Huh?
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:29 pm:
=== So when congressmen from both parties asked for examples of Russian interference or hacking, the intelligence folks briefing them were unable to cite any specific examples? Huh?===
Oh - Louis G Atsaves -, you’re a “Russian Hoax” person?
I knew your were a Trumpkin, but you’re ignoring Russian interference?
Who were those 13 Russians Robert Muelker indicted, and for what?
Shouldn’t members of congress want governors updated on current threats? Are you saying there’s no threats that the governor needs to fear?
- don the legend - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:42 pm:
==Hard to get help from someone who thinks Russian election interference is a hoax, especially when that person is openly soliciting foreign interference.==
Trump doesn’t think it’a a hoax. He knows it’s true because as you said, Trump is openly soliciting the help. He blusters about it being a hoax to keep the lie alive and to feed the Trumpkins.
With respect to Grandson.
- Maryjane - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:43 pm:
The current crop of Republicans make this Cold War USN veteran sick to her stomach. If they prefer Russia, I suggest they pack their things and take up residence there among their compatriots.
- Cheryl44 - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:51 pm:
It’s not that Trump doesn’t think it’s happening. He’s fine with it as long as it benefits him.
- Annonin - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 3:56 pm:
It is a hoot to watch this clown car of GOPie empty suits whine aboutJB worrying about the Commie threat. Remember Empty Suit Rodney is the “Ranking Member” of the House Committee that has jurisdiction over elections.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 4:51 pm:
Louis:
It is an established fact that the Russians have been attempting to interfere in our elections. That’s not in dispute. Don’t be dense.
- Lincoln Lad - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 5:24 pm:
JB taking action to protect elections, and takes on the President at the same time. Well done. I like it, and hope other governors follow him.
- FormerParatrooper - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 5:46 pm:
Part of me thinks Trump is downplaying the interfere to make it sound like it is having a minimal impact, and the other part thinks he is not fully grasping the situation.
Most people I hope know election interference is not a new phenomenon. It has existed as long as there has been elections. The last few elections have been contentious and rather divisive among us. The Russians and Chinese have been been adding gas to the fire . I not only believe the Russians are interfering, I also believe they are succeeding at furthering the divide in this Country. The right and left are seemingly embracing the discord. And regardless who wins the next election, there will be camps who claim interference made that election.
- Froganon - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 7:53 pm:
Streator Curmudgeon - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 2:14 pm:
Secure elections should not be a partisan issue, and it’s bizarre that the Republicans have made it one.
Trump and his Republican minions can’t win without Russian interference. Of course they don’t want it investigated or monitored.
- RNUG - Thursday, Mar 5, 20 @ 8:15 pm:
== You can’t hack Punch cards…… ==
But you can lose them in the Chicago River …