- Title: Former homeland secretary says FBI delayed notification of cyber hack
- Date: 21st June 2017
- Summary: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES (JUNE 21, 2017) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY JEH JOHNSON ENTERING HEARING ROOM AND TAKING SEAT WHITE FLASH BACK VIEW OF JOHNSON AT HEARING SIDE VIEW OF JOHNSON AND OTHERS LOWERING THEIR HEADS FOR PRAYER AT START OF COMMITTEE HEARING REPRESENTATIVE RICK CRAWFORD (REPUBLICAN - ARKANSAS) SAYING PRAYER SIDE VIEW OF JOHNSON STANDING UP TO BE SWORN IN JOHNSON WITH RIGHT ARM RAISED BEING SWORN IN CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE MIKE CONAWAY (REPUBLICAN - TEXAS) SPEAKING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY JEH JOHNSON SAYING: "The first time I recall hearing about the hack into the DNC (Democratic National Committee) and I recalled that it had been some months before I was learning of this, that the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation) and the DNC had been in contact with each other about this and I was not very happy to be learning about it several months later, very clearly." WIDE OF ROOM (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY JEH JOHNSON SAYING: "In at least one or two instances, the effort was successful as an intrusion. So, there was a growing list and we saw the scope of this activity expanding as time progressed and then eventually in January, we were in a position to say that this activity itself was also the Russian government. Now, I too have seen the more recent reports I have not had access to classified information for five months. So I'm not in a position to tell you whether it's right or wrong but very definitely as far progressed we saw a progression of scanning and probing activities around voter registration databases which concerned me which is why I kept encouraging state officials to come and seek our help." COMMITTEE MEMBERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY JEH JOHNSON SAYING: "I know what I see open source and I'm not in a position to agree or disagree. I've seen open source, I think 39 states and I'm not in a position to agree or disagree." SIDE VIEW OF JOHNSON (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY JEH JOHNSON SAYING: "We were very concerned that we not be perceived as taking sides in the election, injecting ourself into a very heated campaign and so, or taking steps to themselves de-legitimize the election process and undermine the integrity of the election process." SIDE VIEW OF JOHNSON
- Embargoed: 5th July 2017 18:47
- Keywords: Jeh Jonhson Homeland Security Director House of Representatives Russia presidential election
- Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace,International/National Security
- Reuters ID: LVA0016M82JPJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told a congressional panel on Wednesday (June 21) that there was a delay between the time the FBI first made contact with the Democratic National Committee about Russia hacking its servers and the time he was notified at the Department of Homeland Security.
Johnson, who served under President Barack Obama, was testifying about alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
The Department of Homeland Security issued warnings about hacking into voter registration databases, but Johnson said the notices did not get the attention he would have liked.
Johnson blamed the emergence of a 2005 tape, in which Donald Trump brags about sexually assaulting women, for distracting the American public at the time of the warnings.
Asked why the Obama administration did not do more to warn the public about the hacking, Johnson said, "We were very concerned that we would not be perceived as taking sides in the election, injecting ourselves into a very heated campaign." - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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