President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday touted a new testimonial from WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange that Russia was not the source behind the Democratic National Committee and John Podesta email hacks during the campaign.
“Julian Assange said ’a 14 year old could have hacked Podesta’ — why was DNC so careless? Also said Russians did not give him the info!” Mr. Trump tweeted Wednesday morning.
Those comments from Mr. Assange came in an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity this week, though he has previously denied on Mr. Hannity’s radio show that Russia was the source for the emails from DNC officials and Mr. Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman.
Mr. Trump expanded on his criticism of DNC email security in another set of tweets.
“Somebody hacked the DNC but why did they not have ’hacking defense’ like the RNC has and why have they not responded to the terrible…things they did and said (like giving the questions to the debate to H). A total double standard! Media, as usual, gave them a pass,” he said.
The DNC emails, released just prior to the party’s convention in July, showed officials appearing to undermine the campaign of Sen. Bernard Sanders, Mrs. Clinton’s top Democratic rival, and ultimately prompted the resignation of former DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Mr. Trump also seemed to refer to interim DNC Chairwoman Donna Brazile’s reportedly tipping off the Clinton campaign about a question before a town hall event.
WikiLeaks also released a number of Mr. Podesta’s private communications in the closing stretch of the campaign, which revealed internal jockeying and and deliberating within the Clinton camp.
The Obama administration has pointed toward Russia for the hacks, but Mr. Trump has been skeptical.
Last week, the president-elect said he knows things about the hacking situation that others don’t, and said people would find out what that information is on Tuesday or Wednesday. Mr. Trump didn’t disclose the information on Tuesday.
• David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.
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