White House: Timing of Russia-Hacking Review Aimed at Shielding US Spy Agencies

President Barack Obama will publicly release information on Russia’s alleged meddling in the US election at a time when harm to the intelligence community can be minimized, White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters Wednesday.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Last week, White House homeland-security adviser Lisa Monaco said the administration would complete by January 20 an ongoing review by multiple intelligence agencies of reported attempts by Russia to interfere in the US electoral process. On that date, Obama's term will end and Donald Trump will be sworn in as the next president.

"The president has gone to a great length to protect the intelligence community from even the appearance of being used as a political weapon," Earnest said at a briefing. "That has long-term consequences for the decisions that future presidents, plural, will make."

According to Earnest, Obama intends to make findings of the review public but will base his decision on when that happens in a manner that shields the intelligence community from charges of political manipulation – a standard the spokesman said will benefit future occupants of the Oval Office.

He explained that US presidents of tomorrow will need to be sure that information they receive from intelligence agencies is accurate and untainted by partisan politics.

Russia has denied widespread claims by US officials that it tried to interfere in the November 8 election, to the benefit of Trump. Moscow has called the allegations absurd and an attempt to distract Americans from domestic issues.

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