- According to the AP, former national security adviser John Bolton told colleagues that he briefed Trump on the matter in March 2019.
- The New York Times reported on Monday that the intelligence was included in Trump's President's Daily Brief (PDB) in late February 2020.
- The New York Times first detailed intelligence that suspected Russia of secretly offering payment to Taliban-linked militants to kill coalition forces in Afghanistan.
- Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .
Trump was briefed on suspected Russian bounties on US troops, according to two reports
President Donald Trump was briefed on intelligence related to potential Russian bounties on US troops in Afghanistan, both the New York Times and the Associated Press reported on Monday.
Recommended articles
President Donald Trump was briefed on intelligence related to possible Russian bounties on US troops in Afghanistan, both The New York Times and Associated Press reported, though they each gave a different timeline.
US officials with direct knowledge of the intelligence told the AP that top officials in the White House were aware of the alleged Russian plot in early 2019, which was included in at least one of Trump's daily briefings.
Former national security adviser John Bolton also told colleagues that he briefed Trump on the matter in March 2019, according to the AP.
On Monday, The Times reported that Trump was provided with a written briefing on the matter in February 2020, saying it was included in Trump's President's Daily Brief. One official told The Times that the intelligence appeared in Trump's briefing in late February, another pinpointed the date to February 27.
The Times first detailed the intelligence briefing on Friday, citing unnamed intelligence officials as saying that Russia was thought to have covertly offered money to Taliban-linked militants to kill coalition forces in Afghanistan. The officials told The Times that Trump was made aware of the matter in March 2020 but chose not to act.
On Saturday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said neither Trump nor Vice President Mike Pence had been briefed on the intelligence .
"The United States receives thousands of intelligence reports a day, and they are subject to strict scrutiny," McEnany said.
On Sunday, Trump denied knowing about the intelligence briefing , saying that the US intel "did not find this info credible" and did not report it to him or Pence. He called the Times report "possibly another fabricated Russia Hoax."
Russia has denied the allegations .
This is a developing story.
NOW WATCH: Inside London during COVID-19 lockdown
See Also:
- Trump says US intelligence did not find reports about Russian bounties on US troops 'credible' and therefore did not report it to him
- The Biden campaign says it's limiting contact with foreign officials, blaming a 'poisonous environment' created by Trump
- Chinese nationals with ties to the Chinese government donated hundreds of thousands to support Trump's reelection, according to report