Trump pledges to meet U.S. spy chiefs for Russian hacking facts

Trump pledges to meet U.S. spy chiefs for Russian hacking facts

PanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday, December 29 responded to a slew of U.S. election related sanctions against Russia with a call for the country to "move on" and a conciliatory pledge to meet U.S. spy chiefs he has harshly criticized, AFP says.

"It's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things," Trump said, echoing previous prickly reactions to allegations his November win over Hillary Clinton was somehow tainted by Russian interference.

"Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation," he added.

President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered a series of diplomatic and economic sanctions against Russia over the hacking which US officials say was aimed at disrupting the November election.

Trump has long treated such accusations as a thinly veiled effort by a Democratic president to delegitimize a Republican victory.

But that defiant stance is running up against increasing opposition in his own party.

While Trump has already received intelligence briefings about the election and substantial evidence is in the public sphere, his pledge to meet with intelligence chiefs could provide a face-saving opportunity to further soften his stance.

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