NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Russia is interfering with the 2020 election and is trying to get President Donald Trump re-elected, intelligence officials warned House lawmakers last week, the New York Times reported Thursday.
The classified briefing angered the president, who fears Democrats will exploit the information and "weaponize" the disclosure.
Trump "berated" outgoing acting director of national intelligence Joseph Maguire on Feb. 14, the day after the briefing, for permitting the briefing to take place in the first place, according to the report
Trump, according to the report, was particularly annoyed that Rep. Adam Schiff -- one of the president's most outspoken foes -- was present at the hearing.
During the hearing, Trump's allies challenged the findings, arguing Trump has been critical of Russia.
The intelligence officials who held the hearing, Shelby Pierson, is Maguire's aide. According to the Times, Pierson "has a reputation of delivering intelligence in somewhat blunt terms."
Fast forward to Wednesday when Trump announced he was replacing Maguire with Richard Grenell, the U.S. ambassador to Germany.
Although the timing of Maguire being replaced raised eyebrows, the Times reports that two administration officials said the timing was coincidental.
Spokeswomen for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and its election security office declined to comment. A White House spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
