Biden: McConnell Refused To Sign Bipartisan Statement On Russian Interference : The Two
Joe Biden
Former Vice President Joe Biden  says  he  and President Obama decided not to speak out publicly on Russian interference during the 2016 campaign after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to sign a bipartisan statement condemning the Kremlin's role.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Council on Foreign Relations   Biden  said the Obama administration sought a united front to dispel concerns that going public with such accusations would be seen as an effort to undermine the legitimacy of the election.
At that point   Biden  added  he felt that "the die had been cast" and that "this was all about the political play."
"Can you imagine if  the president  called a press conference in October  with this fella  Bannon  and company  and said  'Tell you what: Russians are trying to interfere in our elections and we have to do something about it '"  he  said. "Would things have gotten better  or would it further look like we were trying to delegitimize the electoral process  because of our opponent?"
"Had we known what we knew three weeks later  we may have done something more  " Biden  added.
McConnell's office disputed  Biden 's account  as reported by Politico  "pointing to a letter signed by all four congressional leaders in September 2016 and sent to the president of the National Association of State Election Directors  urging cybersecurity precautions in light of reports of attempted hacking."
In an interview with NPR in November   Biden  was asked by Morning Edition's Rachel Martin if  he  thought Russia had interfered in the election. "I don't think. I know they did "  Biden  replied.
 Biden 's appearance at the Council of Foreign Relations was to discuss an article  he  authored in the current issue of Foreign Affairs magazine titled "How to Stand Up to the Kremlin: Defending Democracy Against Its Enemies."
[TGT] says   [TGT]   and President Obama decided not to speak out publicly on Russian interference during the 2016 campaign after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refused to sign a bipartisan statement condemning the Kremlin's role.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Council on Foreign Relations    [TGT] said the Obama administration sought a united front to dispel concerns that going public with such accusations would be seen as an effort to undermine the legitimacy of the election.
At that point    [TGT] added   [TGT]  felt that "the die had been cast" and that "this was all about the political play."
"Can you imagine if   [TGT] called a press conference in October  with this fella  Bannon  and company  and said  'Tell you what: Russians are trying to interfere in our elections and we have to do something about it '"   [TGT]   said. "Would things have gotten better  or would it further look like we were trying to delegitimize the electoral process  because of our opponent?"
"Had we known what we knew three weeks later  we may have done something more   [TGT] added.
McConnell's office disputed  Biden 's account  as reported by Politico  "pointing to a letter signed by all four congressional leaders in September 2016 and sent to the president of the National Association of State Election Directors  urging cybersecurity precautions in light of reports of attempted hacking."
In an interview with NPR in November    [TGT] was asked by Morning Edition's Rachel Martin if   [TGT]   thought Russia had interfered in the election. "I don't think. I know they did "   [TGT] replied.
  [TGT]  's appearance at the Council of Foreign Relations was to discuss an article   [TGT]   authored in the current issue of Foreign Affairs magazine titled "How to Stand Up to the Kremlin: Defending Democracy Against Its Enemies."