President-elect Donald Trump
Donald TrumpJulie Andrews: Trump's proposed budget cuts to the arts ‘mind-boggling’ Judge denies request to apply previous travel ban block to Trump's revised order State Dept: Israel will not see foreign aid cuts under Trump budget plan MORE early Wednesday highlighted Julian Assange’s claim that Russia was not the source for stolen documents WikiLeaks released in the lead-up to the U.S. presidential election.
“Julian Assange said ‘a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta’ - why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info!” Trump wrote on Twitter, referring to Hillary Clinton
Hillary Rodham ClintonProgressive group frustrated with DNC over transition team Chelsea Clinton plans new children's book: 'She Persisted' Top Dems prep for future while out of the spotlight MORE's campaign chairman, John Podesta, and the Democratic National Committee.
Julian Assange said "a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta" - why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2017
The Obama administration formally accused Russia in October of trying to interfere in the United States election.
The administration announced new sanctions on Russia last week, expelling 35 diplomats and shutting down two of the country’s compounds in the United States, after an FBI and Department of Homeland Security report linked the Kremlin to hacking of Democratic Party organizations.
President Obama also pointed to the "the Russian government’s aggressive harassment of U.S. officials" as a reason for the new sanctions.
In an interview Wednesday with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, Speaker Paul Ryan
Paul RyanGOP leaders want details before funding Trump’s border wall The White House budget plan shortchanges our economic future Rep. Steve King: GOP colleagues 'patting me on the back' after controversy MORE (R-Wis.) wouldn't say whether he thought Trump should be quoting Assange.
But Ryan had harsh words for Assange, calling him a "sycophant" for Russia who leaks and steals data and "compromises national security."
In later tweets, Trump also questioned why the Democratic National Committee (DNC) did not have “hacking defenses.”
“Somebody hacked the DNC but why did they not have ‘hacking defense’ like the RNC has and why have they not responded to the terrible ... things they did and said (like giving the questions to the debate to H). A total double standard! Media, as usual, gave them a pass,” Trump wrote.
Somebody hacked the DNC but why did they not have "hacking defense" like the RNC has and why have they not responded to the terrible......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2017
things they did and said (like giving the questions to the debate to H). A total double standard! Media, as usual, gave them a pass.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2017
Scott Wong contributed.
- Updated at 10:42 a.m.
