Ex-CIA director: US meddles in foreign elections for a ‘very good cause’

Following a federal indictment of Russians accused of meddling in the U.S election, a former CIA director on Friday said the U.S. “probably” meddles in other countries’ elections, as well.

The Russian embassy flagged his comments.

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When asked whether the U.S. interferes in other countries’ elections, James Woolsey said, “Well, only for a very good cause in the interests of democracy.”

“Oh, probably, but it was for the good of the system in order to avoid communists taking over,” he told Laura Ingraham on her Fox News show on Friday night.

Woolsey served as CIA director under former President Clinton. 

His comments follow a federal indictment released on Friday that accused 13 Russian individuals and three Russian groups of attempting to influence the 2016 presidential election.

The Russian embassy to the United Kingdom quoted Woolsey on Saturday, adding the comment: “Says it all.”

Former CIA director James Woolsey: “US meddles in foreign elections – but only for a very good cause”. Says it all. pic.twitter.com/ib51oA1rC8

— Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) February 17, 2018

Russia has denied meddling in the U.S. election. The U.S. intelligence community reached the conclusion that they did. Special counsel Robert Mueller’s indictment this week charges that the Russian influence operation began in 2014.

Multiple lawmakers have expressed outrage that a foreign government would seek to influence a U.S. election and called for the investigation into charges against Russia to continue, in order to halt meddling in the future.