Senate Republicans are defending President Trump’s handling of intelligence claiming that Russia’…

Senate Republicans are defending President TrumpDonald John TrumpUtah Lieutenant Gov. Cox leads Huntsman in close governor’s raceTrump tweets ‘we all miss’ Ailes after swiping at FoxFormer NFL player Burgess Owens wins Utah GOP primaryMOREs handling of intelligence claiming that Russias military intelligence units offered bounties to Taliban militants to kill U.S. troops, arguing the evidence of bounties has not received sufficient verification.
Trump has come under sharp criticism since Saturday for not issuing a forceful response to the allegations or vowing to get to the bottom of the claims. Instead, the president has waved off media reports as fake news and suggested the story is meant to make Republicans look bad.
Trump claimed in a tweet Sunday night that Intel just reported to me that they did not find this info credible, and therefore did not report it to me or @VP. Possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax, maybe by the Fake News @nytimesbooks.
One Republican lawmaker, Sen. Ben SasseBenjamin (Ben) Eric SasseFCC formally designates Huawei and ZTE as national security threatsClinton swipes at Trump on Russian bounty news: I ‘would have read my damn briefs’GOP senator: Russia should be labeled state sponsor of terrorism if intelligence is accurateMORE (R-Neb.), said Monday that the White House needed to get more serious in its response after he was flooded by calls from Nebraskan constituents alarmed about media reports of the bounties.
By Tuesday, however, Republican senators started to rally around Trump, defending his handling of intelligence after receiving a briefing at the White House from Director of National Intelligence John RatcliffeJohn Lee RatcliffeOvernight Defense: Democrats blast Trump handling of Russian bounty intel | Pentagon leaders set for House hearing July 9 | Trump moves forward with plan for Germany drawdownGOP senator calls reporting on Russia bounties ‘absolutely inaccurate’ after White House briefingDemocrats hit Trump for handling of Russian bounty allegations after White House briefingMORE and national security adviser Robert OBrien.
Republican lawmakers who attended the White House briefing said media reports about the intelligence were inaccurate or based on unverified intelligence.
GOP senators argued that Democrats on the Senate Intelligence Committee had access to the same intelligence the president did and didnt sound an alarm, implying the recent controversy has a political motive with the election four months away.  
Sen. Todd YoungTodd Christopher YoungStronger patent rights would help promote US technological leadershipIn the next COVID-19 bill, target innovation and entrepreneurshipGOP lawmakers stick to Trump amid new criticismMORE (R-Ind.) who attended the briefing with Ratcliffe and OBrien Tuesday morning, said major national newspapers reported on unverified and inconclusive intelligence as though it had been conclusively determined that Russia paid bounties on U.S. troops.
Every single member, Republican and Democrat alike, of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is aware, should have been aware of the intelligence that I was briefed on. Its long been available, he added.
Democrats have ripped Trump over the issue, and Senate Democratic Leader Charles SchumerChuck SchumerOver 1700 veterans ask Senate to pass statehood billWhite House says Trump has now been briefed on Russian bounty intelNew legislation required to secure US semiconductor leadershipMORE (N.Y.) on Tuesday morning criticized the president for not taking immediate action.
If in fact Putin and his cronies have been sponsoring the murder of American and coalition forces in Afghanistan, there is no question that there should be swift and severe consequences, Schumer said on the Senate floor.
But unlike every previous administration Ive ever worked with, the Trump administration has been shockingly weak-kneed when it comes to authoritarian leaders like Putin.
Schumer on Tuesday said Democrats would push for amendments to the annual defense policy bill, which is pending on the floor this week, to penalize Russia.
The bottom line is we need tough action and tough action against Putin and in the NDAA bill, we will seek to get it, he said, referring to the National Defense Authorization Act.
Democrats will offer an amendment sponsored by acting Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioSenate passes extension of application deadline for PPP small-business loansSenate GOP starting to draft next coronavirus proposalGOP senator calls reporting on Russia bounties ‘absolutely inaccurate’ after White House briefingMORE (R-Fla.) and Sen. Chris Van HollenChristopher (Chris) Van Hollen1,700 troops will support Trump ‘Salute to America’ celebrations July 4: PentagonSenate passes sanctions bill targeting China over Hong Kong lawTrump’s 4th of July celebration double the cost from previous years: studyMORE (D-Md.) to place new sanctions on Russia if it interferes in the 2020 election.
But Congresss response to allegations that Russia offered bounties on U.S. troops is rapidly breaking down along party lines, raising doubts whether lawmakers will be able to send anything to Trumps desk to force a reckoning with Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir Vladimirovich PutinPompeo tells Taliban ‘not to attack Americans’McConnell: Russia should not be admitted to G-7Intercepted financial data raised suspicions about Russian bounties: reportMORE.
Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jim InhofeJames (Jim) Mountain InhofeSenators push to limit transfer of military-grade equipment to policeTrump faces bipartisan calls for answers on Russian-offered bountiesTrump nominee denounces past Islamophobic tweetsMORE (R-Okla.), who is managing the defense bill, said earlier Tuesday that he is opposed to adding language to address the allegation of bounties.  
Sens. Joni ErnstJoni Kay ErnstOvernight Defense: Democrats blast Trump handling of Russian bounty intel | Pentagon leaders set for House hearing July 9 | Trump moves forward with plan for Germany drawdownGOP senator calls reporting on Russia bounties ‘absolutely inaccurate’ after White House briefingWhere things stand in 13 battleground statesMORE (Iowa) and Ron JohnsonRonald (Ron) Harold JohnsonPostal Service boosted by increased use during pandemic: reportLawmakers introduce legislation to establish national cybersecurity directorTrump, GOP clash over new round of checksMORE (Wis.), two other Republican senators who participated in the White House briefing, both disputed media reports that Russia paid bounties for the targeting of U.S. troops.
The main point is the intelligence was not verified, Johnson said. It wasnt at the level of actionable intelligence. It wasnt at the level that they notified the president. And quite honestly it wasnt at the level that congressional leaders had access to the exact same intelligence, that alarmed them either.
The New York Times in another bombshell revelation Tuesday reported that American officials intercepted electronic data showing large financial transfers from a bank account controlled by Russias military intelligence agency to a Taliban-linked account, citing three officials familiar with the intelligence.
Johnson said that information didnt come up at the White House briefing.
GOP leaders say they do not have any immediate plans to schedule a vote on sanctions legislation, as some Democrats are demanding.
Well see. Our relevant committees will continue to look at it. I dont think theres any lack of appetite to put sanctions on Russia for all their malign activities. But whether thats something that gets floor time this year is an open question, said Senate Republican Whip John ThuneJohn Randolph ThuneGOP skeptical of polling on TrumpDemocrats optimistic about chances of winning SenateKarl Rove says Trump is ‘behind’ in presidential raceMORE (R-S.D.).
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellDemocratic lawmakers call for expanding, enshrining LGBTQ rightsManchin draws line against repealing legislative filibusterHillicon Valley: Facebook takes down ‘boogaloo’ network after pressure | Election security measure pulled from Senate bill | FCC officially designating Huawei, ZTE as threatsMORE (R-Ky.) on Tuesday afternoon declined to say whether he would support additional sanctions on Russia but said the president and other U.S. policymakers shouldnt have any illusions about Putins hostility to the United States.
Its no secret the Russians are up to no good. They have been throughout Putins tenure. Various administrations have tried to warm up to Putin. Its clear that hes not somebody you can warm up to, he said.
McConnell said he couldnt verify whether Russia offered bounties on U.S. troops but wouldnt be surprised if they did.
Would I be surprised if the Russians were doing something like this? Absolutely not. Theyre trying to create a problem for us everywhere, he said.
The GOP leader said its appropriate for the White House to brief senators on the allegation of bounties.
I dont have an observation about what may have happened in the past but listening to the people who have been briefed, it appears as if this is not a conclusion thats been reached to such a level that it might have even made it to the top, he said.