#Pompeo: US handled intel on possible Russia-Taliban bounties ‘incredibly well’

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday that US spy agencies responded “incredibly well” to intelligence on possible Russian bounties for killing US troops in Afghanistan.

Pompeo said Russia undercutting the US in the almost 19-year Taliban insurgency “is nothing new” and that members of Congress have long been aware of it.

“We took this seriously, we handled it appropriately. The Russians have been selling small arms that have put Americans at risk there for 10 years. We’ve objected to it … When I meet with my Russian counterparts, I talk with them about this each time. ‘Stop this,’” Pompeo said at a press conference.

Pompeo, a former CIA director, pivoted between coyly declining to confirm reports on the alleged bounties and describing the US response as well-handled.

“I can assure you that whatever reporting it is that you’re referring to that we responded in precisely the correct way with respect to making sure that our forces were postured appropriately,” he said.

Pompeo added, however: “The CIA’s put out a statement, the DNI has put out a statement. But I can tell you, the intelligence community handled this incredibly well.”

Democrats this week blasted President Trump over a report that said he was briefed — but did not act — on intelligence that Russia paid bounties to kill US troops. Members of Congress received briefings on the specific intelligence after the report.

US intelligence leaders deny Trump was briefed and say the information was unconfirmed. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Tuesday the intelligence may never be confirmed because it leaked.

Pompeo questioned Democrats in Congress who are claiming to be “shocked and appalled.” He said lawmakers long have had information on Russia’s role in Afghanistan.

“The fact that the Russians are engaged in Afghanistan in a way that’s adverse to the United States is nothing new,” Pompeo said. “So members of Congress are out there today suggesting that they are shocked and appalled by this, they saw the same intelligence that we saw. So it would be interesting to ask them what they did when they saw whatever intelligence is that they are referring to. They would have had access to this information as well.”

Trump tweeted Wednesday that the initial report on the alleged bounties was written “to slander me & the Republican Party.”

“I was never briefed because any info that they may have had did not rise to that level,” Trump wrote.

The report, however, created Republican divisions on Trump’s plan to include Russia in the next G-7 summit meeting. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Tuesday he opposes the idea. Pompeo said it was Trump’s call, but that “we need to talk to the Russians.”