Fact Check: FBI Director Wray made clear that to date Russia has not targeted US “election infrastructure.” Meaning Russia didn’t “hack our election.” CNN and Washington Examiner materially changed FBI Director Wray’s 7/18/18 words

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7/18/18, FBI Director Christopher Wray at Aspen Institute was asked by NBC’s Lester Holt about alleged Russian meddling in US elections. Mr. Wray’s reply made a point of separating activities that might be termed “meddling.” He separated US election infrastructure from general propaganda Russia and others have been known to use for the purpose of being divisive. Of the former, election infrastructure, Mr. Wray said, “we haven’t yet seen” Russian efforts to target US election infrastructure (exact definition of “election infrastructure“ posted below). On the latter group of activities, not involving election infrastructure, Wray says Russia did attempt to create divisiveness in the past and will continue to do so. Remarks leading up to “election infrastructure” reference begin at 8:54 on 7/18/18 Aspen Institute video. Posted below are: definition of “election infrastructure,” CNN’s altered version of Wray’s statement, and Washington Examiner's altered version of Wray’s statement: 

Wray’s actual words from the video: 

Wray: “We haven’t yet seen an effort to target specific election infrastructure at this time.”…
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Definition of “election infrastructure,“ per former DHS Chairman Jeh Johnson: 

“By “election infrastructure,” we mean storage facilities, polling places, and centralized vote tabulations locations used to support the election process, and information and communications technology to include voter registration databases, voting machines, and other systems to manage the election process and report and display results on behalf of state and local governments.”
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CNN’s altered version of Wray’s statement, 7/18/18: 

“Wray said that the intelligence community has not observed an effort by Russia to target specific election infrastructure as they did in 2016.” 

Wray’s actual statement: “We haven’t yet seen an effort to target specific election infrastructure at this time.”… 

Wray did not say “as they did in 2016.” CNN materially changed the statement. Mr. Wray said no Russian efforts had yet taken place against US infrastructure. Meaning, no efforts took place before 2016 and none have taken place to date since 2016. Meaning, Russia “hacking our election” never happened. The multi-billion dollar Russiagate industry is technically out of business.

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Washington Examiner’s altered version of Wray’s statement in quotes, 7/18/18: 

Wray: “We haven’t quite seen an effort to target specific infrastructure this time, but certainly other efforts, which I call malign influence operations, are very active.”… 

Wray actually said: “We haven’t yet seen an effort to target specific election infrastructure at this time.”… 

Washington Examiner viciously changed Wray’s statement and took the extra step of placing quote marks around the altered statement. The word “yet” was removed and replaced by the word “quite.” The word “yet” meant that no Russian cyber intrusions to US elections had ever been found to date. For Wray’s phrase “at this time,” Washington Examiner removed the word “at.” This created a new phrase, “this time,” implying there had been another time, in this case, 2016. This must be an example of the “free press” they keep talking about.

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Three sources, all 7/18/18: Aspen Institute video, begin at 8 min 54 sec; CNN article, Washington Examiner article:

“The Aspen Institute, Streamed live on Jul 18, 2018″ 

“FBI Director [Christopher Wray] describes the Bureau’s role in national security generally and cyberterrorism and counterintelligence specifically. Christopher Wray, Director, FBI. Moderator: Lester Holt, Anchor, NBC Nightly News,” Join at 8 min., 54 seconds: 

Wray: “The intelligence community’s assessment has not changed, my view has not changed, which is that Russia attempted to interfere in the last election. And that it continues to engage in malign influence operations to this day.”

Lester Holt: Aimed at our political system? 

Wray: Aimed at sowing discord and divisiveness in this country. We haven’t yet seen an effort to target specific election infrastructure at this time.”…

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CNN article excerpt:

7/18/18, “Trump’s FBI Director says Russia continues to target the US –to this day,” from CNN’s David Shortell. “FBI Director Christopher Wray said Wednesday that Russia “continues to engage in malign influence operations to this day.”...Wray said that the intelligence community has not observed an effort by Russia to target specific election infrastructure as they did in 2016, but “we could just be a moment away from it going to the next level.””

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Washington Examiner article including incorrect Wray quote: 

7/18/18, “FBI chief Christopher Wray: Russia still engaging in ‘malign influence’ election meddling,” Washington Examiner, Naomi Lim 

“FBI Director Christopher Wray said Wednesday Russia is still trying to meddle in U.S. elections and dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to form a joint task force to probe Kremlin-linked interference ahead of the 2016 election. 

“The intelligence community’s assessment has not changed,” Wray said during an interview at the Aspen Security Forum in Colorado. “My view has not changed, which is that Russia attempted to interfere with the last election and that it continues to engage in malign influence operations to this day.” 

“We haven’t quite seen an effort to target specific infrastructure this time, but certainly other efforts, which I call malign influence operations, are very active, and we could just be a moment away from it going to the next level,” he continued.”… 

[Ed. note: Wray’s actual statement includes the words “yet” and “at”: “We haven’t yet seen an effort to target specific election infrastructure at this time.”…] 

(continuing): “”To me, it’s a threat we need to take very seriously and respond to with fierce determination and focus.” 

Putin’s offer regarding a collaborative approach to the investigation into 2016 was “not high on our list of investigative techniques,” Wray said. 

Wray added that he had a “professional” relationship with President Trump and referenced his strong “spine” when asked whether he had threatened to resign over congressional demands for information. 

“I am a low-key, understated guy, but that should not be mistaken for what my spine is made of,” he said. “I’ll leave it at that.”” 

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/fbi-director-christopher-wray-russia-still-engaging-in-malaign-influence-election-interference 



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