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Trump on Russian hacking: 'I don't believe it'

<p>President-elect Donald Trump has gotten a lot of criticism <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-has-declined-many-intelligence-briefings-offered-to-him/" target="_blank">for reports that he is</a> skipping daily intelligence briefings. And on Sunday, Fox New's Chris Wallace asked him about it point-blank.</p><p>"You know I'm, like, a smart person. I don't have to be told the same thing in the same words every single day," Trump said.</p><p>Trump told Wallace he gets the briefings but only when he needs them. <a href="http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/309840-trump-on-intelligence-briefings-i-get-it-when-i-need-it" target="_blank">He also said</a> his generals and Vice President-elect Mike Pence are getting briefings more often.</p><p>If you're wondering what kind of briefings Trump is allegedly skipping, they include top secret information related to espionage, covert operations and other national security issues.</p><p><b>SEE MORE: <a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/us-director-of-intelligence-james-clapper-resigns/">US Director Of Intelligence Expresses Threat Concerns Before Resigning</a></b></p><p>Of course, each president has had different ways of receiving intelligence briefings. President Barack Obama likes to read his, while former President George W. Bush had his in-person.</p><p>Trump and Pence now have access to the same intelligence information that President Obama receives daily. But Trump has reportedly been receiving briefings only <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-skips-intel-briefings-questions-intensify" target="_blank">once a week</a>, on average.</p><p>Some speculate that Trump just <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/trump-intelligence-community-232463" target="_blank">doesn't trust</a> the intelligence community. Most recently, he's been dismissive of reports from <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/obama-orders-review-of-russian-hacking-during-presidential-campaign/2016/12/09/31d6b300-be2a-11e6-94ac-3d324840106c_story.html" target="_blank">the CIA</a> that <a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/obama-administration-struggles-with-russian-hack-response/" target="_blank">Russia tried to influence</a> the 2016 presidential election.</p><p>Trump told Wallace during his Sunday interview, "I think it's ridiculous. I think it's just another excuse."</p><p>But a former CIA officer <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/trump-intelligence-community-232463" target="_blank">told Politico</a> that Trump's briefing habits are a bad metric to judge him by. It might be more important to make sure his closest allies — like Pence — pass him the information.</p><hr><b>Trending stories at <a href="http://www.newsy.com">Newsy.com</a></b><ul class="inline-related-links"><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/trump-issues-questionnaire-to-energy-department/">Trump's Energy Department Questionnaire Has Some People Worried</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/obama-administration-struggles-with-russian-hack-response/">What We Know About Russia's Alleged Meddling During The US Election</a></li><li><a href="http://www.newsy.com/videos/senate-avoids-government-shutdown-over-coal-miner-benefits/">The Senate Dodged A Government Shutdown Over Coal Miner Benefits</a></li></ul>
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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President-elect Donald Trump blasted the American intelligence community Sunday, calling its assessment that Russia interfered in the election "ridiculous."

"I think it's just another excuse. I don't believe it," Trump said in an interview on "Fox News Sunday."

Trump's direct criticisms of the intelligence community are unprecedented for an incoming commander in chief. His comments come as some leading Republicans call for an investigation into the CIA's assessment that Russia directed the hacking of Democratic operatives and other moves intended to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential race.

Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Arizona, and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, joined incoming Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York and Sen. Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, in issuing a statement warning that "recent reports of Russian interference in our election should alarm every American."

Trump, though, said Democrats were "embarrassed" by the election's results. He asserted the CIA has no idea who was involved in the hacking, and claimed it could have been other countries or individuals.

"Once they hack if you don't catch them in the act you're not going to catch them," Trump said. "They have no idea if it's Russia or China or somebody. It could be somebody sitting in a bed some place."

He acknowledged that "it could be Russia" that hacked Democrats. "I don't really think it is, but who knows? I don't know either. They don't know and I don't know," he said.

"I don't want anyone hacking us, and I'm not only talking about countries," Trump said. "I'm talking about anyone, period. But if you're going to do that, I think you should not just say 'Russia.' You should say other countries also, and maybe other individuals."

Trump also defended his decision to only occasionally receive the Presidential Daily Briefing -- an intelligence assessment offered every morning to the President-elect, matching information delivered to President Barack Obama.

Trump said he's told intelligence officials to tell him when something changes, and that he receives the briefing "when I need it."

That remark drew derision from Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence committee.

"If Trump was as smart as he keeps telling us, he would appreciate all he has to learn. #TakeTheBriefings," Schiff tweeted.

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