Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell has asked election security official Shelby Pierson to remain in her post despite what intelligence officials said was her overstatement that Russia was interfering in the 2020 election to try to get President Donald Trump re-elected.
The move, reports The New York Times, is a peace offering to the intelligence agencies he oversees.
"Amb. Grenell has not asked me to leave," Pierson told The New York Times. "In fact, he has encouraged and affirmed his support for my position here in the organization. I have not asked to depart, nor discussed resignation in any way."
Pierson in a private briefing with the House Intelligence Committee said Russia wanted to see Trump re-elected since it viewed his administration as more favorable to the Kremlin's interests.
"The intelligence doesn't say that," one senior national security official told CNN. "A more reasonable interpretation of the intelligence is not that they have a preference, it's a step short of that. It's more that they understand the president is someone they can work with, he's a dealmaker."
Pierson also told the Times that voting infrastructures have not been affected yet by any foreign powers.
"We have yet to identify any activity designed to prevent voting or change votes," Pierson said. "It is important for us to restate that at every juncture."