Trump admin. says no evidence of midterms vote meddling

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - A joint report submitted by the Justice Department and Homeland Security to President Donald Trump found foreign governments had "no material impact" on the 2018 midterm elections, the departments said Tuesday.

The report was submitted Monday, but its detailed conclusions remain classified. But the departments issued a statement notifying the public of its main finding.

"There is no evidence to date that any identified activities of a foreign government or foreign agent had a material impact on the integrity or security of election infrastructure or political/campaign infrastructure used in the 2018 midterm elections for the United States Congress," it said.

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said Dec. 21 that Russia, China and Iran had sought to influence voters in the 2018 election.

The report follows Trump's September 2018 executive order calling for the departments to present him with their evaluation following the polls as part of potential sanctions on entities who may have sought to sway the U.S. election.

It is unclear, in part because the report remains shrouded in secrecy, if it will trigger any sanctions on foreign entities.

Coats warned in testimony in late January that China and Russia are seeking to meddle in the 2020 presidential race.

The classified report will "help drive future efforts to protect election and political/campaign infrastructure from foreign interference," the brief statement said.