Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kans., President-elect Trump’s nominee for CIA director, criticized Russian aggression and contradicted the incoming commander-in-chief on Moscow’s role in fighting the Islamic State.
“Russia has reasserted itself aggressively, invading and occupying Ukraine, threatening Europe, and doing nearly nothing to aid in the destruction of ISIS,” Pompeo said in his opening remarks during his confirmation hearing Thursday.
Trump has pointed to Russia as a potential ally in the fight against the Islamic State and has argued the Russians are battling the Islamic extremist group in Syria.
“Let ISIS and Syria fight. And let Russia, they’re in Syria already, let them fight ISIS,” Trump told CNN. “Let Russia take care of ISIS.”
Under questioning from the Sen. Mark Warner, the Senate Intelligence Committee’s ranking Democrat, Pompeo said he accepted the intelligence community’s conclusions about Russian hacking and agreed to continue investigating such activities.
Pompeo was also asked by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., about Trump’s initial refusal to accept the intelligence community’s assessment of Russian hacking.
“It’s pretty clear what took place in terms of Russian involvement to hack … and to have an impact in American democracy,” he replied. He said it would be his obligation to give the president the facts as the best the agency can establish them.
Asked by Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., about how to deter Russian hacking in the future, Pompeo said, “I can tell you that it is going to require an incredibly robust American response.”
Pompeo also vowed to be “clear-eyed” about Russian conduct in his role as CIA director.
Trump’s Cabinet nominees have generally sought to reassure senators on Russia during their confirmation hearings.
