Ex-CIA: Russia Knows Way More Than We Do

And that's allegedly because of President Trump's cell phone use
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 7, 2019 11:30 AM CST
Trump's Cell Phone Use Is Called 'Bonanza' for Russia
President Trump is seen on the phone in this 2018 report from MSNBC.   (YouTube)

Seems President Trump is ignoring his staff and continuing to make calls on his personal cell phone—which experts say can easily be overheard by foreign powers like Russia, CNN reports. This according to several current and former US officials who say he still uses his old cell phone rather than White House secured lines. What's more, the House Intelligence Committee's recent impeachment report reveals phone calls between Rudy Giuliani and others (including Lev Parnas, Rep. Devin Nunes, and possibly Trump) that apparently were not on a secure line or encrypted app. With Russian eavesdropping a given, this could mean the Kremlin knows more about Trump's Ukraine dealings than America does.

"Congress and investigators have call records that suggest certain things but have no means whatsoever of getting the actual text" of what was spoken in those calls, a former deputy chief of Russia operations for the CIA tells the Washington Post. "I guarantee the Russians have the actual information." A former White House aide calls it "absolutely a security issue" and "a bonanza" for Russia. This despite several reported attempts by White House staff to get Trump on secure lines. Yet Trump denies it all: "This is totally false information and reporting," he tweeted Friday. "I haven't had a personal cell phone for years. Only use government approved and issued phones. Retract!" CNN reporter Zachary Cohen's response: "We stand by our story." (More President Trump stories.)

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