{"id":57948,"date":"2020-07-02T23:14:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-02T23:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/uncategorized\/2020\/07\/02\/democrats-say-troop-threats-should-be-pursued-relentlessly\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:48:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:48:00","slug":"democrats-say-troop-threats-should-be-pursued-relentlessly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/2020\/07\/02\/democrats-say-troop-threats-should-be-pursued-relentlessly\/","title":{"rendered":"Democrats say troop threats should be pursued \u2018relentlessly\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 The two top Democrats in Congress said Thursday that any threats to U.S. troops must be pursued \u201crelentlessly,\u201d rebuking President Donald Trump after receiving a highly classified briefing about intelligence that Russia offered bounties for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/07\/01\/trump-calls-reports-of-russian-bounties-on-us-troops-a-hoax\/\" target=_blank>Trump, who has downplayed the threat<\/a>, was \u201csoft\u201d on Russian President Vladimir Putin and distracted by less important issues. Trump has called reports of the intelligence assessments a \u201choax\u201d and has so far declined to address whether the U.S. has or will respond to Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur armed forces would be better served if President Trump spent more time reading his daily briefing and less time <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/07\/01\/trump-plans-huge-july-4-fireworks-show-despite-dcs-concerns\/\" target=_blank>planning military parades<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/07\/01\/defying-veto-threat-house-panel-pushes-to-rename-bases-honoring-confederate-leaders\/\" target=_blank>defending relics of the Confederacy<\/a>,\u201d Pelosi and Schumer said in a joint statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump and the White House have repeatedly insisted that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2020\/06\/28\/trump-denies-briefing-on-reported-bounties-against-american-troops-in-afghanistan\/\" target=_blank>the president wasn\u2019t originally briefed<\/a> because the information was unverified, even though it\u2019s rare for intelligence to be confirmed without a shadow of doubt before it is presented to senior government decision-makers. Officials have told The Associated Press and other news organizations that the information was included in one of the president\u2019s written daily briefings last year and again this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/06\/30\/white-house-aware-in-2019-of-russian-bounties-on-american-troops-in-afghanistan-officials-say\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/5910606.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">White House aware in 2019 of Russian bounties on American troops in Afghanistan, officials say<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Top officials in the White House were aware in early 2019 of classified intelligence indicating Russia was secretly offering bounties to the Taliban for the deaths of Americans, a full year earlier than has been previously reported, according to U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the intelligence.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The criticism comes as Trump is working to change the narrative but has faced increasing pressure from lawmakers in Congress \u2014 including some Republicans \u2014 who have demanded more answers about the intelligence assessment. The president has repeatedly tweeted about protesters tearing down monuments to the Confederacy and on Thursday held a news conference to tout newly released numbers showing added jobs in the economy. He did not mention Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Top intelligence officials, including CIA Director Gina Haspel and Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, conducted the closed-door briefing for a group of lawmakers dubbed the \u201cgang of eight\u201d \u2014 Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the top Republicans and Democrats on the two intelligence committees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The group regularly receives classified briefings at the highest levels, and leaders rarely speak about them. Pelosi and Schumer did not address the substance of the meeting, and none of the other lawmakers leaving the meeting would comment on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a news conference shortly afterward, Pelosi called for tougher sanctions on Russia. She said the white House has \u201cput on a con\u201d that there has to be 100 percent consensus on intelligence for it to rise to a presidential level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Without sharing details, Pelosi said \u201cit was a consequential level that the intelligence community should have brought it to us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The House intelligence committee was also scheduled to receive a briefing on the matter Thursday afternoon, according to a person familiar with that meeting who requested anonymity because it was not publicly disclosed.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/militarytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2020\/06\/30\/trump-should-have-acted-on-reports-of-russian-bounties-on-us-troops-lawmakers-say\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"197\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20182099560895.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Trump should have acted on reports of Russian bounties on US troops, lawmakers say<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Democrats and Republicans received separate briefings on the allegations against Russia from top U.S. intelligence officials.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The intelligence assessments that Russia offered bounties were first reported by The New York Times, then confirmed to The Associated Press by American intelligence officials and others with knowledge of the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the president has continued to downplay the intelligence, calling the reports \u201cfake news\u201d designed to damage him and the Republican Party, administration officials have insisted they have taken the assessment seriously. National security adviser Robert O\u2019Brien said Wednesday that the CIA and Pentagon pursued the leads and briefed international allies. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2020\/07\/01\/trump-top-officials-defend-response-to-russia-bounty-threat\/\" target=_blank>the situation was handled \u201cincredibly well\u201d <\/a>to ensure the safety of U.S. troops.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe took this seriously, we handled it appropriately,\u201d Pompeo said, without giving additional details. He said the administration receives intelligence about threats to Americans \u201cevery single day\u201d and each is addressed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20184611423476.jpg.jpg\" alt=\"President Donald Trump speaks during the Spirit of America Showcase at the White House on July 2, 2020, in Washington.\" class=\"wp-image-93089\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20184611423476.jpg.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20184611423476.jpg.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20184611423476.jpg.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20184611423476.jpg.jpg?resize=1024,682 1024w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP20184611423476.jpg.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">President Donald Trump speaks during the Spirit of America Showcase at the White House on July 2, 2020, in Washington. (Evan Vucci\/AP)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, lawmakers have pressed for more answers. A group of House Democrats who were briefed at the White House earlier this week said Trump was bowing to Putin and risking U.S. soldiers\u2019 lives by not making a stronger public statement about the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Texas Rep. Mac Thornberry, the top Republican on the Armed Services Committee, said the panel would \u201cleave no stone unturned\u201d in seeking further information. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., called on the administration to provide a briefing to all senators after he reviewed some of the intelligence in a secure room in the Capitol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf it is concluded that Russia offered bounties to murder American soldiers, a firm American response is required in short order,\u201d Toomey said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other Republicans defended the president, saying they had confidence in the administration\u2019s response. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said earlier this week that he didn\u2019t think Trump should be \u201csubjected to every rumor.\u201d He did not comment as he left the briefing Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Russian meddling in Afghanistan isn\u2019t new, officials said Russian operatives had become more aggressive in their desire to contract with the Taliban and members of the Haqqani Network, a militant group aligned with the Taliban in Afghanistan and designated a foreign terrorist organization in 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/recruiting\/2020\/07\/01\/mother-of-marine-killed-in-afghanistan-demands-answers-amid-russian-bounty-allegations\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"129\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/AP19100633031792.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">Mother of Marine killed in Afghanistan demands answers amid Russian bounty allegations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">The mother of one of three killed Marines killed in Afghanistan in April 2019 is calling for a \u201cthorough investigation\u201d and for those responsible to be held accountable.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The intelligence community has been investigating an April 2019 attack on an American convoy that killed three U.S. Marines when a car rigged with explosives detonated near their armored vehicles as they traveled back to Bagram Airfield, the largest U.S. military installation in Afghanistan, officials told the AP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three other U.S. service members were wounded in the attack, along with an Afghan contractor. The Taliban claimed responsibility. The officials the AP spoke to also said they were looking closely at insider attacks from 2019 to determine if they were linked to Russian bounties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Intelligence officials told the AP that the White House first became aware of alleged Russian bounties in early 2019. The assessments were included in one of the president\u2019s written daily briefings at the time, and then-national security adviser John Bolton had told colleagues he had briefed Trump on the matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Associated Press writers James LaPorta, Zeke Miller, Lisa Mascaro, Alan Fram, Matthew Daly and Deb Riechmann in Washington and Jonathan Lemire in Mystic, Connecticut, contributed to this report.<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The two top Democrats in Congress said Thursday that any threats to U.S. troops must be pursued \u201crelentlessly,\u201d rebuking President Donald Trump after receiving a highly classified briefing about intelligence that Russia offered bounties for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":72174,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":12,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[100,8,23,93,12,25,68],"tags":[],"coauthors":[1213,2936],"class_list":["post-57948","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-flashpoints","category-home","category-middle-column","category-news","category-newsletters","category-pentagon-congress"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"R7PQMZJ7SJGNFJJZ72SWI3XU54","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-military\/2020\/07\/02\/democrats-say-troop-threats-should-be-pursued-relentlessly\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Democrats say troop threats should be pursued \u2018relentlessly\u2019 - Army Times<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The two top Democrats in Congress said Thursday that any threats to U.S. troops must be pursued \u201crelentlessly,\u201d rebuking President Donald Trump after receiving a highly classified briefing about intelligence that Russia offered bounties for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"noindex, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Democrats say troop threats should be pursued \u2018relentlessly\u2019\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The two top Democrats in Congress said Thursday that any threats to U.S. troops must be pursued \u201crelentlessly,\u201d rebuking President Donald Trump after receiving a highly classified briefing about intelligence that Russia offered bounties for killing U.S. troops in Afghanistan.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/armytimes\/news\/2020\/07\/02\/democrats-say-troop-threats-should-be-pursued-relentlessly\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Army Times\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-07-02T23:14:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-08T08:48:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press, Matthew Daly, The Associated Press\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press, 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