Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, argued Wednesday that Russia’s alleged attempts to influence the U.S. election are just a “CNN narrative,” and is not something intelligence agents have been able to prove as true in classified briefings with Congress.
“I think it’s a CNN narrative that the allegations that the Russians were trying to influence the U.S. election between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton,” he said on CNN.
When the CNN host said intelligence officials are the ones who have charged Russia with trying to tilt the election toward President Trump, King said officials have only offered their opinions, not hard facts.
Republican congressman: Its a “CNN narrative” that the Russians were trying to influence U.S. elections https://t.co/yECYo3I58L
— Josiah Daniel Ryan (@JosiahRyan) February 15, 2017
“There was dissent among that, and furthermore, I sat in on that classified briefing, and they divulged not one fact,” he said. “They only gave us their opinions. So we’re back at the same place again. We need facts to work with.”
And when asked if he believes the consensus opinion in the intelligence community, King said it was impossible to judge because they could not offer any solid evidence.
“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know whether they meddled or not. I want to see a transcript. I want to hear some audio. I want to see a chronological timeline that we can say, these things we know that are facts.”
“Because what we’re dealing with are opinions, and obviously now, they’re opinions of people from the intelligence community that are the direct enemies of Donald Trump,” King added.
