Trump Admin Has Refused To Respond After Learning Putin Offered Bounties To Kill US Troops: Report

A Russian military intelligence unit secretly offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants in Afghanistan for killing American troops amid the peace talks to end the long-running war there, U.S. intelligence officials have concluded, according to a New York Times report.

“The United States concluded months ago that the Russian unit, which has been linked to assassination attempts and other covert operations in Europe intended to destabilize the West or take revenge on turncoats, had covertly offered rewards for successful attacks last year,” the Times reported.

The report said President Donald Trump and the White House have known for months about the finding, but have not authorized any response.

According to the Times: “The intelligence finding was briefed to President Trump, and the White House’s National Security Council discussed the problem at an interagency meeting in late March, the officials said. Officials developed a menu of potential options — starting with making a diplomatic complaint to Moscow and a demand that it stop, along with an escalating series of sanctions and other possible responses, but the White House has yet to authorize any step, the officials said.”

The bombshell report has sparked backlash, with many calling Trump’s refusal to respond “treason.”

This the same group, Unit 29155 of Russia’s military intelligence agency, implicated in the poisoning of Sergei Skripal in Britain and a coup attempt in Montenegro. It has never been publicly accused of involvement in attacks on Western soldiers

— Michael Schwirtz (@mschwirtz) June 26, 2020

"Article I, Section 29, of the State Constitution is similar to Article III, Section 3 of the United States Constitution, limiting the legal definition of "treason" to levying war against the State or giving "aid and comfort" to the enemies of the State."

— Contented Independent (@ContentedIndie) June 26, 2020

"Hey, Mr. President, Russia is paying the Taliban a bounty to kill American soliders."

TRUMP: "Let's put Russia back in the G8."

— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) June 26, 2020

Trump is owned by Putin completely and a fucking traitor. https://t.co/wC5G6UhA4S

— Todd Poirier (@todd_poirier) June 26, 2020

There's a word for giving aid and comfort to our nation's enemies during wartime. What was it again? Can't put my finger on it… https://t.co/Y9tLBA0pUy

— Patrick S. Tomlinson (@stealthygeek) June 26, 2020

Why isn't Trump trying to stop Russia from trying to kill U.S. soldiers? https://t.co/PCm6hTzjQI

— Eric Geller (@ericgeller) June 26, 2020