- Title: U.S. intel chief declines comment on any Trump request about Russia
- Date: 23rd May 2017
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (MAY 23, 2017) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) U.S. DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DAN COATS AND U.S. DIRECTOR OF THE DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY LIEUTENANT GENERAL VINCENT STEWART SITTING ON PANEL U.S. SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, DAN COATS, SAYING: "I have always believed that given the nature of my position and the information that which we share, it's not appropriate for me to comment publicly on any of that. So on this topic, as well as other topics, I don't feel it's appropriate to characterize discussions and conversations with the president." (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. SENATOR, JACK REED, SAYING: "I understand that you feel you can't comment on any communications between you and the president, but just hypothetically, if a president reached out to the director of national security and made such a request, would you think that would be appropriate?" (SOUNDBITE) (English) DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE, DAN COATS, SAYING: "Mr. Vice Chairman, I made it clear in my confirmation hearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence that my role and the role of the director of national intelligence is to provide information, intelligence information relevant to policy makers so they can base their judgments on that; that any political shaping of that presentation or intelligence would not be appropriate. I have made my position clear on that to this administration, and I intend to maintain that position." WIDE SHOT SENATORS LISTENING U.S. SENATOR DEB FISCHER ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DIRECTOR OF THE DEFENSE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, LIEUTENANT GENERAL VINCENT STEWART, SAYING: "The world is focused on events in Pyongyang and for good reasons. Since assuming power, Kim Jong Un has conducted three nuclear tests, and the regime has tested an unprecedented number of ballistic missiles of varying ranges over the past year. Although shortfalls remain, key milestones have been met in specific systems, and they continue to obtain valuable data and insights from each test. Let me be very clear on this point. If left on its current trajectory, the regime will ultimately succeed in fielding a nuclear armed missile capable of threatening the United States homeland. While nearly impossible to predict when this capability will be operational, the North Korean regime is committed and is on a pathway where this capability is inevitable." SIDE VIEW OF STEWART SPEAKING BESIDE COATS WIDE SHOT HEARING IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 6th June 2017 16:04
- Keywords: Senate Armed Services Committee Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency Lieutenant General Vincent Stewart North Korea collusion Donald Trump U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats
- Location: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0016I29BGN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: U.S. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats on Tuesday (May 23) declined to say whether President Donald Trump asked him to help deny any collusion between his campaign team and Russia, as reported by the Washington Post, saying his talks with Trump were private.
"On this topic, as well as other topics, I don't feel it's appropriate to characterize discussions and conversations with the president," Coats said about the alleged request. He was speaking at a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Vincent Stewart said North Korea is on a clear path to obtaining a nuclear-armed missile capable of striking the United States. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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