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Sep 13, 2020 - Politics & Policy

Former top intel official: Trump undermining trust in the election advances Russia's aims

Rashaan Ayesh

Sue Gordon, former principal deputy director of national intelligence, told CBS News' "Face the Nation" Sunday that President Trump's message that the electoral system can't be trusted "is exactly what the Russians particularly hope to achieve."

Why it matters: Trump's critics have repeatedly said the president is undermining the elections by sowing distrust into Americans. He has previously claimed, with no evidence, that voting by mail leads to widespread voter fraud.

What she's saying: "That message that you can't trust our system, that you can't trust the vote, that you can't trust the other party, that you can't trust is exactly what the Russians particularly hope to achieve. And their aim would be to sow divisions and to get Americans to say, you know what it's not worth it, I can't trust it, so we're not going to vote."

  • "But [Trump] is not the only one. When the other party says that a difference in policy means he is malfeasant or evil or being controlled that too is undermining. So his is the biggest voice, but there are others."
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