Donald Trump's top aides say there is no evidence Russia tried to help New York tycoon
Mr Trump brought up CIA error over Saddam's alleged WMD
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The evidence may seem overwhelming, but Donald Trump’s top aides have said the President-elect will not accept the finding by US intelligence that Russia tried to influence the presidential election any time soon.
Though the CIA and FBI both confirmed that Russian hackers did release private democratic emails to try and influence a GOP win, the Trump camp maintains he would have came out victorious either way. They believe the findings, which emerged a few days before Monday’s official Electoral College vote, are nothing but Democrats’ attempt to taint his win.
Reince Priebus, Mr Trump’s incoming chief of staff, told the Associated Press that the whole thing is a spin job.
“And I think what the Democrats ought to do is look in the mirror and face the reality that they lost the election,” he said.
KellyAnne Conway, an adviser and Mr Trump’s former campaign manager, echoed this sentiment by saying there was no evidence that voters were swayed by the exposed emails.
A Fox News poll found that the majority of Americans agree: 59 per cent of those polled by the network said they do not believe the Russian hacking influenced the election outcome.
Mr Trump himself called the investigation findings “ridiculous,” during an interview with Fox News.
“I think it's just another excuse,” he said. “I don't believe it. . . . No, I don't believe it at all.”
The FBI and CIA found no evidence that Mr Trump knew about the hacking ahead of time, but Russia’s deputy foreign minister claimed his campaign had contact with Moscow two days after the November 8 election.
Former Clinton campaign Chairman John Podesta, who accepted some responsibility for Ms. Clinton’s loss, also said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” December 18 that the electors have a right to know what happened.
“What did Trump Inc know? When did they know it? Were they in touch with the Russians?” Mr Podesta asked. “I think the electors have the right to know what the answers are.”
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