Rep. Tom Garrett, R-Va., claimed that he was told by FBI officials that Russian meddling played a role in sparking the violent rally in Charlottesville one year ago.
During an interview with CNN on Saturday, Garrett said that during a closed-door meeting roughly two months ago he asked the FBI director, along with other FBI officials, if Russian interference “had to do with fomenting the flames of what happens in Charlottesville.” The officials reportedly told him that it was true, and the information given to him was not classified, he said.
VIDEO: On @CNN @RepTomGarrett says the FBI Director told him directly in a briefing two months ago that Russian inter meddling had to do with fanning the flames in Charlottesville. pic.twitter.com/rorpfeWA95
— Ryan Nobles (@ryanobles) August 11, 2018
Tweet
The GOP lawmaker said that Russians are meddling in our politics as a way to “pit Americans against Americans to undermine confidence in Western-style democracies.”
“As a member of Homeland Security, that’s what scares me most, that Americans will be pitted against Americans over real differences, but that are minimal in the grand scheme of things,” he continued, referring to his membership in the House committee. “We are an American family of brothers and sisters regardless of religion and race, and we need to focus on that.”
One year ago this weekend, white supremacists hosted the United the Right rally in Charlottesville, Va., which was met with counter-protesters and ultimately turned deadly. A second rally is slated to take place outside the White House on Sunday.
