Democrats expect Trump fraud claims

Rep. Jim Himes and Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrats on House and Senate intelligence committees, say they are preparing for President Trump to allege fraud in this year's midterms.

Himes cites January sixth precedent

Himes said it would be irresponsible not to prepare, speaking as somebody who was in the chamber on January six, twenty twenty-one.

“We start with the premise that the president is going to do that. It would be irresponsible not to, speaking as somebody who was in the chamber on January 6, 2021.”

Warner warns of foreign interference claims

Warner said one way Trump could challenge the results is by claiming foreign interference in the voting process itself.

White House defends election security record

White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said President Trump has done more than any other president to ensure free and fair elections and is taking decisive action to protect them.

Trump says he will accept results

Asked if he would accept election results, Trump replied, what do you think, of course I will, but we don't want cheating.

“What do you think? Of course I will, but we don't want cheating.”

Gang of Eight prepares response plan

Himes and Warner, members of the Gang of Eight senior lawmakers overseeing spy agencies, told Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton they must be immediately reachable on Election Day.

Himes plans immediate public denial

If Trump announces foreign interference on Election Day, Himes said he will go on television saying he is Gang of Eight and has received no such briefing or information.

“If, at noon on Election Day, the president announced that the Iranians have undertaken operation, I'm on TV saying 'I'm Gang of Eight and I have received no such briefing, no such information, and I have no reason to believe that this is accurate.'”

Intelligence officials missing required reports

Himes said the DNI office has not provided statutorily required reports about foreign election meddling efforts due one hundred twenty days, sixty days and thirty days before the election.

Latest briefing shows expected threats

The DNI office provided one classified report on Tuesday detailing Russian campaigns targeting Democrats with misinformation, Iranian disruption efforts in Europe, and selective Chinese operations.

No actual voting interference detected

Himes emphasized there is a profound distinction between influence campaigns and actual interference in election infrastructure, and said the US has never seen an operation to actually interfere.

“we have never seen an operation to actually interfere and, as of now, we are not seeing either the capability or the intent to interfere.”