US points at China, not Russia, on election meddling

Signs direct voters outside the Weisman Art Museum polling place during the 2018 Minnesota primary election on August 14, 2018, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. AFP

WASHINGTON, United States – US National Security Advisor John Bolton on Sunday singled out China, North Korea and Iran as countries who could possibly meddle in American elections — as President Donald Trump railed about a probe into Russian interference in 2016.

Trump himself pointed the finger of blame on Saturday, tweeting: “All of the fools that are so focused on looking only at Russia should start also looking in another direction, China.”

When asked about the tweet, Bolton also mentioned Beijing, which is currently at an impasse with Washington on trade talks.

“I can say definitively that it’s a sufficient national security concern about Chinese meddling, Iranian meddling and North Korean meddling that we’re taking steps to try and prevent it,” Bolton told ABC News. “So all four of those countries, really.”

When pressed for further details, especially with relation to China, Bolton was vague, saying he could not offer details.

“I’m telling you (that) looking at the 2018 election, those are the four countries that we’re most concerned about,” he told the network’s “This Week” news program.

Trump has intensified his attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, and whether his campaign team colluded with Moscow to sway the contest in the Republican’s favor.

On Sunday, the president called the probe “McCarthyism at its WORST!” /cbb