WASHINGTON, Jan. 5 (UPI) — The Senate is scheduled Thursday to hold two committee hearings in which top U.S. intelligence officials will discuss Russia’s alleged hacking of the U.S. presidential election.
The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a public hearing, while the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s hearing will be closed. The top officials to discuss the hacking allegations will include National Intelligence Director James Clapper, National Security Agency Director Adm. Michael Rogers and Department of Defense Under Secretary for Intelligence Marcel Lettre.
The officials will likely describe Russia’s role in directing a hacking campaign targeting the Democratic National Committee, Hillary Clinton‘s presidential campaign, specifically manager John Podesta, and other political organizations. The officials will likely also explain why U.S. intelligence agencies concluded Russia was the source of the hacking.
The hearings could create conflict with President-elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly called into question intelligence that Russia directed hacks to help him win the presidency. Trump has called the allegation by the CIA, the FBI and 15 other intelligence agencies “ridiculous.”
The Trump administration said it planned to slim and refocus the United States’ 17 intelligence agencies, citing allegations the intelligence community has become politicized.
President Barack Obama is expected to receive a report from intelligence agencies on their conclusions over the Russian hacking. Trump is scheduled to be briefed on Friday.
Sen. John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called Russia’s alleged interference of the U.S. election was an “act of war.” The intelligence communities said Russian President Vladimir Putin had direct involvement in the campaign hacking.
