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Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis acknowledged Aug. vii that Russian Federation made attempts to influence the 2016 election as well as outlined ― to a greater extent than or less ― how the Pentagon is helping states bolster their election cybersecurity efforts. The text below includes lightly edited excerpts of the official transcript from a press conference Mattis held at the Pentagon. Q: On the election security, you lot own got spoken of late close the efforts of the Pentagon to render back upward for election safety for the midterms as well as beyond. As you lot own got looked at this issue, tin lavatory you lot offering whatsoever to a greater extent than specifics close what you lot intend the Defense Department could produce to aid states as well as governments aid inward election safety amongst active measures that you’ve spoken about? SEC. MATTIS: The -- the inquiry has to produce with, you lot know, nosotros all saw what happened inward 2016 when the Russians as well as perhaps others, but the Russians for certain, tried to produce both influence operations as well as genuinely -- as well as genuinely brand it as well as genuinely corrupt some of the election process. And so, what we’ve done is taken a await at all of those things as well as thence that nosotros know what to await for.
We are engaged inward back upward of the Department of Homeland Security as well as constabulary enforcement inward lodge to hold the integrity of the election. I prefer non to say what those specifics are because inward that case, our adversary would know.
And the adversaries may hold out to a greater extent than than simply Russia. We are non focused only on i country. We are focused on protecting the elections themselves.
So we're looking at both this influence peddling as well as the corrupting -- the violating the integrity of the elections. And those activities are inward direct back upward of constabulary enforcement as well as Department of Homeland Security.
Q: When you lot say the Russians, are you lot inward fact talking close the Kremlin? Are you lot talking close Russian regime ordered as well as back upward interference inward 2016 as well as perhaps beyond? And is at that topographic point whatsoever credible bear witness inward your heed of anybody other than the Russians? So it is official Russian support?
SEC. MATTIS: I believe it is official Russian support; however, that is non exclusive. There is likewise other activities that went on that perhaps are non straight ascribed to the official Russians. But nosotros scout for all of it as well as nosotros tin lavatory describe at to the lowest degree parts of it dorsum to -- to the Russian government.
Q: Mr. Secretary, are you lot worried close whatsoever of those influence peddling campaigns targeting U.S.A. troops inward particular? And how are you lot trying to proceed officials for falling for whatsoever of that?
SEC. MATTIS: You know, I -- the -- the U.S.A. troops, of course, U.S.A. -- the U.S.A. troops, they’re troops, similar all Americans nosotros own got to hold out alarm to the people who would examine to manipulate an election inward the Information Age when there’s as well as thence many feeds coming into everybody, as well as everybody has access to those.
So U.S.A. troops are business office of protecting the Constitution, protecting the integrity of the elections as well as protecting what nosotros stand upward for. And certainly, nosotros pay attending to that equally good but it’s business office of the larger -- the larger domain of protecting America.
Q: ... The Russians as well as perhaps others. What tin lavatory you lot tell us? Is at that topographic point somebody other -- is at that topographic point a regime other than the Russian government? Can you...
SEC. MATTIS: Yeah.
Q: ... Give us your feel of what you lot genuinely hateful when you lot say “and perhaps others”?
SEC. MATTIS: Our -- our mission is to protect the Constitution, protect our means of life, protect our elections, hold the integrity of the election process, that is what nosotros produce inward back upward of Department of Homeland Security as well as nosotros protect against anyone who would examine to muck around from exterior the country.
Inside the dry reason is a constabulary enforcement issue. And they handgrip whatsoever sort of -- whatsoever sort of corruption allegations on an election. But equally far equally overseas, nosotros own got much of the capability inward the Department of Defense, specifically inward U.S.A. Cyber Command as well as NSA. And nosotros operate together to scout for whatsoever sort of threats from wherever, from criminals, from countries, from...
Q: But who did you lot see?
SEC. MATTIS: ... From solitary actors, from whomever. And it takes -- equally you lot know, it’s really difficult to pose inward each case, but inward some cases nosotros have. I’d prefer non to movement into to a greater extent than details on that.
Q: And inward the -- inward the coming elections, are you lot sure you lot tin lavatory encounter as well as listen the Russians if they come upward again?
SEC. MATTIS: Yes, I’m non going to movement into that. I’d prefer to leave of absence tranquillity how nosotros bear those operations. You understand?
Q: Mr. Secretary...
SEC. MATTIS: Yes.
Q: ... Do you lot own got the authorization to bear retaliatory cyber attacks if -- if they’re interfering amongst the elections -- if mortal was...
SEC. MATTIS: I own got -- I own got all the authorization I need. I’m non going to movement into the specific authority. I’d prefer non to permit whatsoever adversary know what nosotros own got upward our sleeve.
Q: What does “fire inward the hole” await similar for cyber, Mr. Secretary? (Laughter.)
SEC. MATTIS: This guy (inaudible). (Laughter.)
SEC. MATTIS: That, I’m non going to tell you. What else is on your minds? All right, as well as thence why don’t you lot guys travel out as well as instruct some H2O inward you, OK?
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