Trump's team tries to stifle rift on Russia
Some of his nominees have labeled Moscow a dangerous rival that wages cyberwar on the U.S., in contrast with Trump's praise for Putin.
By BRYAN BENDER 01/05/17 05:07 AM EST
A war is brewing among Donald Trump’s advisers over how to deal with Russia and Vladimir Putin — and his team is trying to keep it from breaking out into the open.
As the president-elect's top national security picks prepare to testify before Congress starting next week, his transition team is plotting ways to prevent a public spectacle that airs their most wildly divergent assessments of the threat Russia poses, according to two members of the Trump camp directly involved in the deliberations.
Trump's nominees to run the State Department, Pentagon, CIA and Department of Homeland Security are all being prepped to avoid making major policy pronouncements and stick to generalities as much as possible in deference to the incoming president.
But Senate Republicans and Democrats worried by Trump's blasé reaction to Russian interference in American interests are expected to pounce on any divisions by grilling his nominees on whether they agree with his efforts to cozy up to Putin and excuse the Kremlin's belligerent behavior. They’ll have plenty of material to work with, including recent comments by defense secretary nominee Gen. James Mattis that Russia could be the United States’ “most dangerous” rival.
"I think you will see a number of the nominees try not to get pinned down" on the Russia issue, said one Trump transition aide involved in prepping nominees, who was not authorized to speak publicly. "They will try to focus on their credentials, rather than policy."
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http://www.politico.com/story/2017/01/trumps-team-tries-to-stifle-rift-on-russia-233203
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