Trump brushes aside Russian interference, says Democrats do not want Bernie to win

Donald Trump brushed aside Russian interference, says Democrats do not want Bernie to win. However, it's unclear whether members of Trump administration were briefed about Russian efforts to boost Sanders — a move that could be seen as beneficial to Trump's re-election bid.

New Delhi:US President Donald Trump has accused the Democratic chairman of the House Intelligence Committee of leaking election security information, from a classified briefing, regarding the Russian interference in US elections.

Speaking to media, Trump said," They (Intelligence Committee) went to Bernie. They did not tell me. It was sort of strange. I believe it was highly exaggerated and disgraceful. I think it leaks from the house intelligence."

He further said that Democrats do not want Bernie Sanders to win and hence they put up a theory regarding the Russian meddling in the US elections, again.

Sanders had acknowledged that he was briefed last month by U.S. officials about Russian efforts to boost his chances to be the nominee against Trump in November.

A nearly two-year investigation led by special counsel Robert Mueller concluded there was a sophisticated, Kremlin-led operation to sow division in the U.S. and upend the 2016 election by using cyberattacks and social media as weapons. Intelligence officials have warned Russia is doing the same in 2020.

Trump, however, has remained sceptical about the Russian interference.

(With inputs from AFP)