The incoming White House spokesman said Monday there is no evidence that Russia influenced the presidential election, downplaying recent conclusions by federal investigators that the country hacked Democratic Party organizations.
Sean Spicer, President-elect Trump’s pick for press secretary, accused the media of overstating Russia’s influence on the election, in an interview on Fox News.
“The way the mainstream media is playing it up is that [Russia] had an influence on the election,” Spicer said. “There is zero evidence that they actually influenced the election.”
Spicer acknowledged the existence of an FBI and Department of Homeland Security report explaining how federal investigators linked the hacks of Democratic Party emails to the Russian government. But he said the report has more bearing on Democrats’ need to improve their cybersecurity than proving that Russia influenced the election outcome.
The report “is more of a how-to manual for the [Democratic National Committee] as to how they can improve their IT security,” Spicer said.
Spicer has pushed back previously on the idea that Russia affected the election, in December telling PBS that there was “zero evidence” that the hacking had any impact on its outcome.
Trump also has cast doubt on the extent of Russia’s influence. He has hinted he will release more details about the hacking in the next few days.
