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President-elect changes tune on hacking, Dem says it’s about time

42 views · Published 18 January 2017 · 3:07 · Indexed 1 October 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2017 · News & Politics

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CINCINNATI (WKRC) - For weeks, President-elect Donald Trump has questioned claims that Russian intelligence services hacked Democratic Party emails and leaked them to WikiLeaks. 

But at a news conference Wednesday, January 11, Mr. Trump changed his stance days after an intelligence briefing on the matter.

"As far as hacking, I think it was Russia. But I also think we get hacked by other countries and other people," President-elect Trump said.

Some Democrats believe Trump's change of tune has come a little late.

"I think he should spend more time going to the intelligence briefings so he hears about this stuff verses attacking intelligence agencies with something he now seems to agree with," said Ohio Democratic Party chair David Pepper.

Pepper said the hacking concerns aren't about politics anymore but are more importantly a national security threat. Pepper has an interesting perspective on Russian President Vladimir Putin. When Putin, a former KGB operative, was the vice mayor of St. Petersburg years ago, Pepper was working in Russia for a Washington D.C. think tank. Putin was the liaison for Pepper's project and they met dozens of times.

"What I'd say about Putin, from what I saw, was he was very serious-minded and most importantly, as I look at him now, he will aggressively pursue what is in the best interest of Russia. That is what he will do," Pepper said.

Pepper believes Congress should investigate the hacking and Russia role in meddling in the election. Meanwhile, supporters of the President-elect are glad Trump has acknowledged the intelligence community's findings.

"I'm pleased that he is going to assign blame where it belongs and I also think he made a great point about how unprotected some of this data was at the DNC," said Alex Triantafilou, chair of the Hamilton Co. Republican Party.

President-elect Trump said Wednesday he wants the nation to create a defense against hacking. He said he will ask intelligent officials to prepare a report on cyber security when he takes office.

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