In an interview with Mark Levin, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Russia is “pretty clearly” behind the SolarWinds cyber attack targeting U.S. government agencies and private companies:
ALERT: Russia is behind the broad, ongoing cyber spy campaign against the U.S. government and private sector, Secretary of State Pompeo says https://t.co/BQHzaBqym9
— Ellen Nakashima (@nakashimae) December 19, 2020
From the transcript: “I think it’s the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity”:
Pompeo attributed the SolarWinds hack which has impacted a bunch of U.S. federal agencies to Russia. "This was a very significant effort, and I think it’s the case that now we can say pretty clearly that it was the Russians that engaged in this activity."https://t.co/Z3C2uEj2Fi pic.twitter.com/hR9R4CJeGX
— Jerry Christmas, B.A. (@JerryDunleavy) December 19, 2020
You can listen to the interview here:
My interview this evening with our great Secretary of State Mike Pompeohttps://t.co/0pOffXv1w4
— Mark R. Levin (@marklevinshow) December 19, 2020
Earlier in the day, Lawrence Kudlow told reporters, “I don’t know who is totally responsible”:
NEC's Kudlow just spoke to reporters, per pool report.
On SolarWinds, he said, "I don’t know totally who’s responsible. People are saying Russia. I don’t know that. It could be other countries. I just don’t know."
He said he wasn't an expert & referenced "the cyberspace boys."
— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) December 18, 2020
In response, President Trump announced the U.S. will close its remaining two consulates in Russia:
The Trump administration has informed lawmakers of its plan to shutter its two remaining consulates in Russia, per @jmhansler.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) December 19, 2020
As for further action from the government, Sen. Lindsey Graham wants a proportionate “in-kind” response:
The best way to deter cyberattacks against U.S. interests is to make those responsible pay an in-kind price that is so crippling they stop.
Deterrence has to include offense, not just defense. https://t.co/j2M5uBXWOA
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) December 19, 2020
And Sen. Dick Durbin called it “virtually a declaration of war”:
Sen. Dick Durbin says on @CNN the alleged Russian hack is "virtually a declaration of war."
— Ryan Struyk (@ryanstruyk) December 16, 2020
***
