Intel Democrats on how they'll react if Trump alleges election meddling

Preparing for a possible fight over the midterms, the senior Democrats on the congressional intelligence panels say they expect President Trump to assert that foreign powers tampered with the vote, and they want a way to test such assertions quickly. Senator Mark Warner of Virginia and Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut requested that CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton stay reachable by phone on Election Day. Warner said they would press for the basis and source of any intelligence cited. Both could lead their committees if Democrats win both chambers, according to CBS News.

The two say current assessments show no capability or intent to interfere with voting machinery or counting, though influence campaigns by Russia, Iran and China continue, with other actors, including North Korea, weighing moves. Himes said career analysts would resist pressure to invent evidence. Spokespeople for Clayton's office and the CIA said the officials remain available to oversight committees.

The lawmakers also said several legally required election assessments are overdue, blaming Clayton's predecessors Tulsi Gabbard and Bill Pulte, and warned that cuts at the Foreign Malign Influence Center and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency weaken defenses.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CBS News’s reporting. Read the full story at CBS News →