China, Russia and Iran 'undermining' US election
China, Russia and Iran are among countries seeking to influence the united states presidential election this season, a high US intelligence chief has warned.
A statement issued by the director of US counterintelligence said foreign states are employing "covert and overt influence measures" to sway the vote.
These nations "have a preference for who wins the election," it added.
US intelligence chiefs say that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to greatly help President Donald Trump's campaign.
Russia has denied the allegations.
Asked at a press conference on Friday what he planned to accomplish about the report on election interference, President Trump said his administration would look "very closely" into it.
The announcement comes amid claims by Mr Trump about the dangers of mail-in or postal ballots. He has suggested that the vote be delayed to prevent "the most inaccurate and fraudulent election ever sold", prompting a backlash even among members of his own party.
In addition, it follows complaints by Democratic lawmakers that US intelligence agencies aren't releasing information to the general public about foreign interference in this year's vote.
The Republican president Mr Trump is wanting to win a second term in office. His challenger is Democratic candidate and former vice president Joe Biden.
What does the statement say?
William Evanina, head of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center (NCSC), released the statement on Friday.
Foreign countries want to sway voter preferences, change US policies, "increase discord" in the united states "and undermine the American people's confidence inside our democratic process", Mr Evanina said.
The counterintelligence chief however added that it would be "problematic for our adversaries to interfere with or manipulate voting results at scale."
Many countries "judgemental for who wins the election", he said, but the counterintelligence director said these were "primarily concerned" about China, Russia and Iran:
- China "prefers that President Trump - whom Beijing sees as unpredictable - will not win reelection", the statement says, and has been "expanding its influence efforts" ahead of the vote
- Russia is seeking to "denigrate" Mr Biden's candidacy and other members of a perceived "anti-Russia 'establishment'". Mr Evanina added that various other actors associated with Russia "are also seeking to boost President Trump's candidacy on social media and Russian television"
- Iran is wanting to "undermine US democratic institutions", Mr Trump, and "divide the united states" prior to the vote by spreading disinformation and "anti-US content" online. Their efforts are driven partially by a belief a second term for the president "would cause a continuation folks pressure on Iran in order to foment regime change"
- At Friday's press conference, Mr Trump said Russia "could be" meddling in this year's election, but dismissed the idea the country may be trying to greatly help him win a second term. "I believe the last person Russia really wants to see in office is Donald Trump," he said, saying that "nobody's been tougher on Russia than I have, ever."
The release of the statement employs members of the Democratic party voiced concern about attempts by foreign nations to influence the vote.
US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday said the intelligence about current efforts to sway the vote "should be open to the American people".
In his statement, Mr Evanina said his agency "has and can continue steadily to provide classified election threat briefings" to individuals and politicians.
"The steps we have taken thus far to see the public and other stakeholders on election threats are unprecedented for the IC [Intelligence community]."
