By Giwa SHILE
The U.S. government would be silly to think that Russia would not target future elections in the United States, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said during an Aspen Institute security forum.
“I think we would be foolish to think they’re not.
“They have the capability, they have the will. We have to be prepared,’’ Nielsen said when asked if Russia is still targeting the U.S. elections.
Nielsen also said there is no doubt Russia meddled in the 2016 U.S. election.
However, Nielsen said she has seen no evidence that the attempt to interfere in the 2016 election was in favour of a particular party, but was an overall attempt to sow discord in the U.S.
“The Department of Homeland Security has seen states involved in attempting to exert influence on elections, but did not see other states attempt to influence the 2016 U.S. election,’’ Nielsen added.
However, Russia has denied all allegations of interfering in the 2016 U.S. election and has called the accusations groundless.
Moreover, Russian officials have said the allegations were made up to provide an excuse for the electoral loss of a candidate as well as to deflect public attention from actual instances of election fraud, corruption and other pressing issues.
