Russian Bounties: GOP Officials Say Investigation Ongoing As Pressure For Explanations Mounts

Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe issued a statement around 9 p.m. EST Monday night: “We are still investigating the alleged intelligence referenced in recent media reporting and we will brief the president and congressional leaders at the appropriate time.”

Ratcliffe echoed CIA Director Gina Haspel’s statement denouncing leaks to journalists, writing that “unauthorized disclosures” could prevent “our ability to ever find out the full story.”

Texas Rep. Michael McCaul, top Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was one of eight GOP House representatives to attend a White House briefing on the matter earlier on Monday and told NBC News that he’s concerned the reports on the possible bounties may be true.

During the briefing, McCaul said White House officials told the group that no American troops were killed as a result of the alleged bounties.

At least 18 U.S. service members lost their lives in Afghanistan between 2019 and 2020, according to the Washington Post, which along with the New York Times believes that several fatalities were a result of the bounties (although the two outlets could have diverging opinions on which fatalities could have resulted from the bounties).

McCaul also told NBC News that the intelligence on the bounties came out in January, although the Associated Press reported Monday night that top White House officials knew about it in early 2019.