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Jan 30, 2018 - World

CIA chief: Russia will try to hack 2018 midterms

Dave Lawler

Pompeo. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

CIA Director Mike Pompeo told the BBC that he anticipates Russia will try to interfere in the 2018 midterm elections: "I have every expectation that they will continue to try and do that, but I'm confident that America will be able to have a free and fair election [and] that we will push back in a way that is sufficiently robust that the impact they have on our election won't be great."

  • The backdrop: The State Department just announced it will not add new sanctions on Russia under the law passed last year by Congress because the sanctions already in place were working as a deterrent.
  • One more thing: Pompeo said North Korea could have the capability to hit the U.S. with nuclear weapons "in a handful of months."
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