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Trump has a baffling ‘blind-spot’ toward Russia and should trust U.S. intel instead, says U.S. Sen. Graham

By Matthew Schofield

mschofield@mcclatchydc.com

January 04, 2017 03:57 PM

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is urging President-elect Donald Trump to vigorously question U.S. intel organizations, but also to trust them and their motivations.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is urging President-elect Donald Trump to vigorously question U.S. intel organizations, but also to trust them and their motivations. Susan Walsh AP
Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., is urging President-elect Donald Trump to vigorously question U.S. intel organizations, but also to trust them and their motivations. Susan Walsh AP
WASHINGTON

President-elect Donald Trump “has a blind-spot” toward Russia, according to U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaking on CNN Wednesday during an interview that covered a list of foreign policy concerns.

Graham – who has loudly denounced Russian actions since leaks from a CIA report in December indicated that Russians, directed by Russian President Vladimir Putin, interfered in the U.S. elections – appeared to be trying to convince President-elect Donald Trump to start believing what he termed “the patriots” who work for U.S. intelligence agencies.

When it comes to Russia, he seems to have a blind spot. And I’m completely perplexed, because the Russians are undermining democracy throughout the entire world.

U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on President-elect Trump appearing to believe WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange instead of U.S. intelligence

“What bothers me is that President-elect Trump seems to get the Chinese for who they are,” he said on the news show. “The Iranian (nuclear) agreement is bad, he understands that. He understands the threat we face from (the Islamic State). … When it comes to Russia, he seems to have a blind spot. And I’m completely perplexed, because the Russians are undermining democracy throughout the entire world.”

Sen. Lindsey Graham, a military lawyer who's served in Iraq and Afghanistan while in Congress, says lawmakers need to amend a recently passed law authorizing the terrorism victims to sue foreign governments. Such lawsuits, the South Carolina Repub

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Graham’s comments came after the president-elect Wednesday morning tweeted what appeared to be support for WikiLeaks founder and director Julian Assange, who for years has been seen by Republicans as a villain.

Trump tweeted: “Julian Assange said ‘a 14-year-old could have hacked Podesta’ – why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info!”

U.S. intelligence has insisted Russian hackers did provide Assange with information WikiLeaks released in October that embarrassed Democratic candidate and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Graham made a point of saying that while embarrassing, the information did not change the result of the election. Graham said that he and other senators next week would move to ramp up economic sanctions against Russia.

In his final press conference, President Obama urged Americans to separate election politics from national security, and to make cyber security a bipartisan issue.

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When asked if the president-elect had been duped by the Russians he said “I don’t know.”

Graham said: “In Julian Assange’s world we are the bad guys – not the Russians, not the Iranians, not the North Koreans.”

Matthew Schofield: 202-383-6066, @mattschodcnews

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