Trump Blasts New York Times Report of U.S. Cyberattack on Russia as ‘Virtual Treason’

June 16, 2019 (EIRNS)—President Donald Trump accused the New York Times of a “virtual act of treason,” following its report that the U.S. is ramping up cyberattacks on Russia’s power grid, Daniel Chaitin reported late yesterday in the Washington Examiner. Saturday night, June 15, President Trump named the pompous New York Times “THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!” for emphasis.

He elaborated in a two-part tweet June 15:

“Do you believe that the Failing New York Times just did a story stating that the United States is substantially increasing Cyber Attacks on Russia. This is a virtual act of Treason by a once great paper so desperate for a story, any story, even if bad for our Country... ALSO, NOT TRUE! Anything goes with our Corrupt News Media today. They will do, or say, whatever it takes, with not even the slightest thought of consequence! These are true cowards and without doubt, THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!”

Astonishingly, administration officials—specifically, in John Bolton’s National Security Council—colluded with the New York Times on the story, while not briefing the President.

This decision to hide a potential war provocation from the U.S. President occurred as Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a June 13 interview, warned, “Unfortunately, ... our relations with the U.S.—they are in fact deteriorating, getting worse by the hour.”

Earlier Saturday afternoon, Chaitin reports, Trump tweeted the “The Corrupt News Media is totally out of control—they have given up and don’t even care anymore.” He said that the Times’ communications team responded by tweeting,

“Accusing the press of treason is dangerous. We described the article to the government before publication. As our story notes, President Trump’s own national security officials said there were no concerns.”

The warning strike, wrote Chaitin was authorized by the U.S. Cyber Command, which was granted extended authority to conduct cyber “clandestine military activity” in order to “deter, safeguard, or defend against cyber attacks” against the United States last year by Trump and Congress.

However, Chaitin reports that Trump Administration officials did not brief the President on the “implants” inside the Russian power grid! Pentagon and intelligence officials told the Washington Examiner that that they were concerned about keeping Trump apprised of the “cyber salvo against Russia for fear of how he might react,” wrote Chaitin.