Capehart and Ponnuru on Trump's threat to block Alaska election results

Top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees are preparing for the potential that President Trump will claim foreign interference to challenge the upcoming midterm elections. While recent intelligence assessments indicate no evidence of foreign manipulation of voting machines or counts, Trump and his allies have a history of making baseless allegations of voter fraud and election interference.

Senators Mark Warner of Virginia and Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut have urged CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to be available on election day to verify any claims of foreign interference in real-time. They have also prepared various scenarios to address potential attempts by the president to cast doubt on election results or justify federal intervention.

The lawmakers expressed confidence in career intelligence officials and assured that Clayton is available 24/7 to the House and Senate intelligence committees. Recent intelligence assessments indicate no evidence of foreign interference, but the lawmakers remain concerned about the weakening of the federal government's capacity to detect and counter election threats, including reductions in staff at key agencies.