NSA Director Tells Congress Trump Hasn't Told Him to Stop Russian Meddling
BERMAN: All right, breaking news. NSA chief Mike Rogers says that he needs the president or the secretary of Defense to grant him authority to stop Russian cyber threats where they originate, and he doesn't have that authority as it stands now. CNN Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr with much more on this. His words very carefully chosen and very interesting, Barbara.</s>BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, John. Where they originate. Cyber threats where they originate. We're getting the glimpse this morning, just a glimpse, into some of the most classified cyber intelligence operations that there may be. This is something the Pentagon almost never talks about. What you're talking about is where they originate, going and meeting that Russian cyber threat where it begins in Russia. Meeting the Russians in cyberspace, offensive warfare in cyberspace. You can't say it enough. A fascinating exchange on Capitol Hill this morning when the head of the National Security Agency was finally asked what authorities he does have to meet the Russians in cyberspace.</s>MIKE ROGERS, NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY DIRECTOR: But the mission teams, particularly at the origin of the attacks, have the authority to do so. If granted the authority, and I don't have the day-to-day authority to do that. If granted the authority.</s>SEN. JACK REED (D), RANKING MEMBER, ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE: So you would need basically to be directed by the president through the secretary of Defense --</s>ROGERS: Yes, sir. I mentioned that in my statement.</s>REED: Have you been directed to do so given the strategic threat that faces the United States and the significant consequences you recognize already?</s>ROGERS: No, I have not, but if I could flush this out, I'll say something in an open and classified, I'd be glad to go into more detail in a classified.</s>REED: Yes, sir.</s>STARR: So if you want to hear more details, you have to have a security clearance to go behind those closed doors. But a really fascinating glimpse into all of this because it has been a consistent issue for the U.S. military. You can attack them in cyberspace, but the Russians are very savvy, of course. We don't see the Russian state, the Russian government out there conducting these attacks. We've seen evidence, plenty of evidence they work through third parties, through companies, through cutouts of people that are very hard to identify, making it very hard for the U.S. military to go after them -- John.</s>BERMAN: Very interesting. The president has not said to stop the Russian meddling at its source. Barbara Starr, I appreciate it. Thanks very much. We have one tidbit of breaking political news to tell you about. Senator Bob Corker, Republican from Tennessee, the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is still not running for re-election. He announced some time ago he was not going to run for re-election. But lately has been flirting with the idea of jumping back in the race. He had a somewhat poisonous relationship with the president. That relationship over the last month seems to have gotten better. Corker thought he might jump back in. But his chief of staff just told our Manu Raju, man of many stories up on Capitol Hill, that Senator Corker has not plans now to get back in the race. Plus, we have more breaking news, major political breaking news, the president just announced who will run his 2020 re-election campaign. Who is it? We'll tell you right after the break.