Trump intel chief: ‘No doubt’ Russia sees 2018 midterms as potential target

President Trump’s top intelligence chief said Tuesday that there is “no doubt” that Russia views its efforts to influence the 2016 election as successful and will look to target the upcoming midterms.

“There should be no doubt that Russia perceived its past efforts as successful and views the 2018 midterm elections as a potential target for Russian influence operations,” Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said during his opening remarks at a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing.

{mosads}He also warned lawmakers that Moscow is “likely to pursue even more aggressive cyberattacks” against future elections in an effort to undermine U.S. democracy.

Moscow will look to “use elections as opportunities to undermine democracy, sow discord and undermine our values,” Coats said.

The panel’s regularly scheduled hearing on worldwide threats to U.S. national security took place amid the committee’s ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Coats and the rest of the officials testifying — including FBI Director Christopher Wray, CIA Director Mike Pompeo and National Security Agency Director Adm. Mike Rogers — all reaffirmed their confidence the intelligence community’s assessment on Russian interference in the 2016 election.