Donald Trump rejects CIA reports of Russian election intervention

Donald Trump has spoken out about the CIA's claims that Russian Hackers intervened in November's Presidential election by attempting to swing the vote in his favour. Branding the reports as "ridiculous" in an interview with Fox News due to be shown on Sunday evening (11 December) in the US, Trump said he "doesn't believe" the CIA's claims.

The Washington Post reported on Friday that US intelligence agencies had identified a number of individuals with links to the Kremlin who leaked hacked emails from the Democratic National Committee as well as Hilary Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta to Wikileaks. Intelligence agencies said the main aim of the leaks had been to ensure Republican candidate won the election.

Trump was the shock winner of the November 9 vote, beating Democrat candidate Clinton. Russia, who backed Trump in the election, has strenuously denied the allegation. However, both Democrats and Republicans have now called for a full investigation into the claims.

Clinton's campaign is widely thought to have been derailed by the leaked emails and officials were quick to blame Russia in October. While the new intelligence suggested Russia had also hacked the Republican's database but chosen not to disclose its contents. A spokesperson for the party however dismissed this.

Trump told Fox News in the interview: "I think it's ridiculous. I think it's just another excuse. I don't believe it."

Trump has repeatedly dismissed claims that Russia could have intervened in the election, and maintains the claims are politically motivated. Speaking to Time Magazine earlier this week, Trump said: "It could be Russia. And it could be China. And it could be some guy in his home in New Jersey. I believe that it could have been Russia and it could have been any one of many other people - sources or even individuals."

Trump's transition team went on to rubbish the CIA's intelligence, stating: "These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. The election ended a long time ago in one of the biggest Electoral College victories in history. It's now time to move on and 'Make America Great Again'."