Senator Richard Burr, who has access to some of the most highly classified US intelligence, said Moscow has shown a clear will and ability to disrupt elections in Western democracies. “What we might assess was a very covert effort in 2016 in the United States, is a very overt effort, as well as covert, in Germany and France,” he told reporters. “I remind you that we’re within 30 days of the first French election, with four candidates. It will go down to two candidates with a runoff in May,” he said. “I think it’s safe by everybody’s judgment that the Russians are actively involved in the French elections.”
Burr is leading the Senate inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential campaign, an effort that US intelligence alleges was directed by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
He said Russia was potentially a “balance disrupter” in the European elections, able to tilt the result toward the candidates it favors.
“So we feel part of our responsibility is to educate the rest of the world about what’s going on, because it’s now into character assassination of candidates.”
Full Article: Russia ‘actively involved’ in French election, warns US Senate intelligence chief – France 24.