Top intel Democrats say they’ve “war-gamed” how to react if Trump alleges foreign interference in midterms

October 23, 2026 / 5:26 PM EDT / CBS News

The top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees say they are preparing for the possibility that President Trump makes claims of foreign interference to challenge next month's midterm elections.

The lawmakers said recent intelligence assessments show no indication of foreign efforts to manipulate voting machinery or vote counts. But Mr. Trump and his allies have an established history of raising claims about voter fraud and election interference.

Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia and Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut said this week they have asked CIA Director John Ratcliffe and Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton to be reachable by phone on Election Day, seeking direct access to the senior intelligence officials who could help verify, in real time, any claims of foreign interference made by the president or his administration.

"What we can demand is, what is the basis of this intelligence? What is the source of this intelligence?" Warner said.

"We're making the assumption that the president is not going to accept the results of what looks to be a very challenging election for him and his party," Himes told reporters on Wednesday. "There's a wide array…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/