Ari Fleischer on Intel Report: A 'Warning' to Trump on Putin

Former White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Saturday that the Russian hacking report declassified on Friday "should be a warning" to President-elect Donald Trump should he try to seek improved relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Fleischer, who served former President George W. Bush, posted his thoughts on Twitter:

(1/3) I accept as fact that Russia interfered in our election. An attack on 1 political party should be treated as an attack on all parties.

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 7, 2017

(2/3) If President Obama had been stronger, he could have and should have deterred the attack. Russia should fear messing with us.

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 7, 2017

(3/3)This should be a warning to Pres Trump. Improved relations w Russia can be good, but Putin is devious. Trump must not be gullible.

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) January 7, 2017

The report by U.S. intelligence agencies said that Putin and his government hacked into the Democratic National Committee and other party operatives to try to undermine Democrat Hillary Clinton and help Trump.

Putin and his agencies "aspired to help President-elect Trump's election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him," the report said.

"All three agencies agree with this judgment," according to the findings. "CIA and FBI have a high confidence in this judgment; NSA has moderate confidence."

President Barack Obama ordered the report, which was presented to him on Thursday.
Trump responded by slamming the report as a "political witch hunt."

He also called for a congressional investigation into the leak of the report to NBC News on Thursday before his briefing the next day.