{"id":429594,"date":"2021-04-15T21:20:30","date_gmt":"2021-04-16T01:20:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=429594"},"modified":"2021-04-15T21:20:39","modified_gmt":"2021-04-16T01:20:39","slug":"schiff-and-swalwell-went-all-in-on-the-dubious-russia-bounty-story","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/schiff-and-swalwell-went-all-in-on-the-dubious-russia-bounty-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Schiff And Swalwell Went All In On The Dubious Russia Bounty Story"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fschiff-and-swalwell-went-all-in-on-the-dubious-russia-bounty-story%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=429594&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div dir=\"ltr\">\n<ul>\n<li><b>Two Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee hyped news reports last year that President Donald Trump turned a blind eye to intelligence that said the Russian government was paying bounties to Taliban fighters to kill American troops.&nbsp;<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>On Thursday, the Biden administration dealt the theory a major blow, saying that the U.S. intelligence community has only \u201clow to moderate confidence\u201d that the intelligence is accurate.&nbsp;<\/b><\/li>\n<li><b>Schiff and Swalwell were also leading proponents of the since-debunked claim that the Trump campaign colluded with the Russian government.&nbsp;<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell, two Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee, hyped reports last year that the Russian government paid bounties to kill American soldiers, an allegation that the Biden administration now says is based on inconclusive intelligence.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Schiff and Swalwell, along with other Democrats, used reports of the alleged bounty payments to accuse President Donald Trump of turning a blind eye to Russian aggression against the U.S.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Schiff, the chairman of the House Intelligence panel, accused Trump and other Republicans of refusing to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin over the alleged bounties. In a tweet on Aug. 27, Schiff said that their silence put U.S. troops \u201cin danger.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">\u201cAmericans are outraged by reports that Russia offered bounties on U.S. troops,\u201d Schiff tweeted on July 2.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe only American who isn\u2019t? Donald Trump. Trump is again taking the Kremlin\u2019s side and calling it a hoax.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Swalwell accused Trump of not supporting U.S. troops, saying that the Republican \u201chasn\u2019t said shit about serious allegations Russia is paying bounties to kill them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The two Democrats, who <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2019\/07\/24\/rep-schiff-419-interviews-russian-collusion\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">also<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2018\/05\/18\/rep-swalwell-proof-of-collusion-bill-hemmer\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">pushed<\/a> since-debunked theories of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, were responding to reports first published by The New York Times. <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2021\/04\/15\/russia-bounty-taliban-low-confidence\/\">(RELATED: US Has Only \u2018Low To Medium Confidence\u2019 In Russia Bounty Claim)<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">On June 26, The Times <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/06\/26\/us\/politics\/russia-afghanistan-bounties.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">reported<\/a> that U.S. officials believed that Russian intelligence had paid Taliban operatives to kill American troops in Afghanistan. What\u2019s more, according to the initial Times report, Trump had been briefed on the intelligence but done nothing in response.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_6524708\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" readability=\"35\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-6524708\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-6524708\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-2133-scaled.jpeg\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-2133-scaled.jpeg 4238w, https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Troops-in-Afghanistan-170x120.jpg 170w, https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Troops-in-Afghanistan-768x542.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn01.dailycaller.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/Troops-in-Afghanistan-620x437.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 4238px) 100vw, 4238px\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-6524708\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">U.S. troops patrol at an Afghan National Army (ANA) Base in Logar province, Afghanistan August 7, 2018. REUTERS\/Omar Sobhani<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Cracks <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2020\/06\/30\/new-york-times-russia-taliban-trump-bounty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">soon emerged<\/a> in the story. For one, Trump was not directly briefed on any intelligence regarding bounty payments, The Times subsequently reported. Some intelligence was included in a presidential daily brief that was reportedly not communicated to Trump.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Some U.S. officials, including <a href=\"https:\/\/dailycaller.com\/2020\/07\/08\/general-kenneth-mckenzie-russia-taliban-evidence-bounty\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">military officials<\/a>, also doubted the credibility of the intelligence.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">The Biden administration appears to broadly concur with the Trump administration\u2019s interpretation of the intelligence.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">On Thursday, U.S. officials told reporters that the intelligence community has \u201clow to medium\u201d confidence in the allegations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe United States intelligence community assesses with low to moderate confidence that Russian intelligence officers sought to encourage Taliban attacks U.S. and coalition personnel in Afghanistan in 2019 and perhaps earlier,\u201d a U.S. official told reporters Thursday.<\/p>\n<p>Officials say that the intelligence came from \u201cdetainee reporting,\u201d suggesting that captured Taliban fighters were the source for the bounty claim.<\/p>\n<p>Schiff\u2019s office did not respond to a request for comment about the Biden administration\u2019s assessment.<\/p>\n<p>Schiff and Swalwell\u2019s past comments about the bounty allegation are listed below:<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" readability=\"16.900849858357\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">President Biden has his priorities in order:<\/p>\n<p>Speaking with our NATO allies before returning Putin\u2019s call.<\/p>\n<p>Calling out Putin on the hack, election meddling, bounties, and poisoning, all while pushing a new START treaty.<\/p>\n<p>This is how a President asserts U.S. interests and values. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/z1ibN1Pyp8\">https:\/\/t.co\/z1ibN1Pyp8<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepAdamSchiff\/status\/1354149283361132545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">January 26, 2021<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" readability=\"16.056818181818\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Bounties on U.S. troops. Election interference. Injuring our soldiers.<\/p>\n<p>Yet again, Trump is shamefully silent.<\/p>\n<p>Trump will never stand up to Russia and Vladimir Putin.<\/p>\n<p>And because Republicans refuse to stand up to Trump,<\/p>\n<p>They too put our democracy \u2013 and our troops \u2013 in danger. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/hr4NfqUAGj\">https:\/\/t.co\/hr4NfqUAGj<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepAdamSchiff\/status\/1299046525776138240?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">August 27, 2020<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" readability=\"14.277620396601\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Americans are outraged by reports that Russia offered bounties on U.S. troops.<\/p>\n<p>The only American who isn\u2019t? Donald Trump. Trump is again taking the Kremlin\u2019s side and calling it a hoax.<\/p>\n<p>This is no hoax, Mr. President. But it is time you put our troops first, instead of Putin. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/eLid6i0DyE\">pic.twitter.com\/eLid6i0DyE<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepAdamSchiff\/status\/1278691399119110145?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 2, 2020<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" readability=\"16.05\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">In Helsinki, Trump took Putin\u2019s word over our own intelligence agencies because of Putin\u2019s \u201cstrong\u201d denial.<\/p>\n<p>Now, the Kremlin is once again denying reports Russia offered a bounty to kill Americans in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n<p>If these reports are true, will Trump side with Putin, yet again? <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/B3nXriCQ7p\">pic.twitter.com\/B3nXriCQ7p<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepAdamSchiff\/status\/1278010459061436417?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">June 30, 2020<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" readability=\"9.8620689655172\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Now I get why <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@realDonaldTrump<\/a> won\u2019t stand up to Putin for bounties on our troops. Does Trump act as a Russia agent? Yes. But, Trump also thinks any US troops killed by Russia bounties are \u201csuckers\u201d or \u201closers.\u201d He hasn\u2019t defended them. He never will.<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepSwalwell\/status\/1301708967123525632?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">September 4, 2020<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" readability=\"9.1238670694864\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">It\u2019s clear <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@realDonaldTrump<\/a> will not confront Putin about credible allegation Russia is putting bounties on our troops\u2019 lives. Congress &amp; the free press must now ask each senior administration official if they recommended that Trump should confront Putin. Did he ignore them?<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepSwalwell\/status\/1286360779210608640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 23, 2020<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" readability=\"8.1785714285714\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"en\">Do you support:<\/p>\n<p>Our troops?<\/p>\n<p>*Because <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@realDonaldTrump<\/a> hasn\u2019t said shit about serious allegations Russia is paying bounties to kill them. Cut the childish tweets and do your job: protect those in uniform. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/i31Po1Gie3\">https:\/\/t.co\/i31Po1Gie3<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/RepSwalwell\/status\/1279884865329156098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 5, 2020<\/a> <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact <a href=\"mailto:licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org\">licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Two Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee hyped news reports last year that President Donald Trump turned a blind eye to intelligence that said the Russian government was paying &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2312278,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-2133-scaled.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"Schiff And Swalwell Went All In On The Dubious Russia Bounty Story","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-429594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/04\/fb_image-2133-scaled.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"Schiff And Swalwell Went All In On The Dubious Russia Bounty Story","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/429594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=429594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/429594\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2312278"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=429594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=429594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=429594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}