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White House Defends Trump Not Being Briefed on Russia 'Bounty' for US
Soldiers

Steve Herman

   WHITE HOUSE - The White House is on the defensive about President
   Donald Trump not being briefed on reports that a Russian military
   intelligence unit offered bounties to Taliban militants in Afghanistan
   to kill U.S. soldiers.

   "It was not verified," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany
   said Monday when reporters asked why the president was not told of the
   information. "There were dissenting opinions within the intelligence
   community," she added.

   The White House did conduct a Monday afternoon briefing for eight House
   Republicans about the matter amid bipartisan calls by members of
   Congress for transparency.

   House Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants CIA Director Gina Haspel and Director
   of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe to give the full 435-member
   House of Representatives a briefing on the issue.'¯

   "Congress needs to know what the intelligence community knows about
   this significant threat to American troops and our allies and what
   options are available to hold Russia accountable," Pelosi said in a
   statement.'¯

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