Incoming Press Secretary Sean Spicer agreed Monday an investigation is needed into how members of the media were able to to obtain details of the intelligence community's report on Russia before President-elect Donald Trump was briefed.
"I'm not going to try to guess what I think happened," Spicer told Fox News' "America's Newsroom" co-anchor Bill Hemmer. "We're talking about classified information pertaining to our nation's cybersecurity and what has happened.
"The idea that members of the media were given that report prior to — never mind the timing — at all is troubling."
Spicer said he did not want to place blame on whomever could have leaked the information, saying it would be better to have hearings and an investigation.
"Somebody is responsible for this, and it is very troubling," Spicer said.
There has already been extensive research and intelligence looking into Russian hacking, he continued and "when you look at the efforts that were undertaken by 17 of our nation's intelligence communities, that's the briefing given to the president-elect and his team last Friday."
"The president-elect said in his statement on Friday he needs to get a plan in 90 days how to buttress our efforts to stop this," Spicer said.
"Largely what you do when you read the reports, you realize most of this stems from the Democratic National Committee not having the proper IT security, and then rebuffing the Federal Bureau of Investigation."
When a law enforcement agency makes contact, he continued, agencies like the DNC should "take their call, heed their advice, and act."
Meanwhile, Senate confirmation hearings will start Tuesday for many of Trump's picks, and Spicer said all are "successful people who know hot to get things done," and all will pass because Republicans have the votes.
"I think we'll have a number of people ready day one," Spicer said. "Beyond just the seven, we had five additional given to President Barack Obama the first week he was in office for a total of 13.
"We're on pace to match that as well. These individuals are great and ready to serve this country and bring real change. Both parties should be able to get it done."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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