At the Hamburg meeting with Trump, Putin denied any involvement in the election, later issuing a statement that he believed Trump accepted his claim – and that reporters should ask the U.S. president for his thoughts. Â
Trump still has not refuted Putin’s assertion. “I said, ‘did you do it?’ And he said no, I did not. Absolutely not,” Trump told Reuters in an interview following the summit meeting. “I then asked him a second time in a totally different way. He said absolutely not.”
Bossert, who occupies an office just below the Oval Office, reasserted the intelligence community’s claim that there was no evidence that Russia’s operation tampered with actual ballots.Â
He also disputed suggestions that the administration was not doing enough to counter the continuing threat, indicating that an administration report on cyber deterrence was due in August aimed at upping the country’s defenses.
In response to the Russia attack, the Obama administration responded by expelling 35 Russian diplomats and shuttering two Russian compounds in Maryland and New York, believed to be spy outposts for the Kremlin.
Some lawmakers and experts have called on the Trump administration to take tougher action against Russia.Â
Bossert suggested that U.S. could take more direct action to retaliate.Â
“Not one bad actor is paying for their actions,” Bossert said.
With the 2018 elections looming, Kelly said the U.S. has been offering assistance to state election officials to bolster their defenses. At least 21 state election systems were targeted by Russia during 2016, federal authorities said.
But Kelly said local authorities continue to be wary of any federal intervention.
“We don’t want you involved in our election policies,” Kelly said, recounting a now-common refrain from state officials.
“I think they would be nuts if they don’t accept help,” the secretary said.