WASHINGTON, D.C. –  U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) questioned the leaders of America’s intelligence community on the global threat landscape during today’s Senate Intelligence Committee’s hearing -- including increased cooperation between China and Russia, the current political dynamics in Venezuela, the deep connection between Huawei and the Chinese government, Iran’s nuclear activities, and the use of “deep fake” technology to mislead the American public and distort the electoral process.

During the hearing, Senator King touched on a number of important topics, including:

Huawei’s ties to the Chinese government: “On Huawei, it seems to me they have to decide they are either going to be a worldwide telecommunications company or an agent of the Chinese government. They can’t be both. And right now, they're trying to be both. And I think the world's customers – which the Chinese are certainly sensitive to – are the best enforcers of that principal.” (Beginning at 1:12)

Increased cooperation between Russia and China: “For a generation, that hasn't been the case. That could turn out to be a very big deal on the horizon in terms of the United States. If those two countries begin to work together systemically, that that could be a big problem for us.” (Beginning at 4:21)

The use of ‘deep fake’ technology to mislead the American people: “One thing we're worried about is ‘deep fake’… That's when they use technology to create essentially a false reality, an apparent speech by a candidate where different words are coming out of their mouth than what they actually said. Here's my question. If in the next two years and particularly in the year preceding the next election, your agency determines that this is happening, and that it's sponsored by a foreign entity, will you inform the candidates that are the victims of this, the committees. My concern is it's one thing for the Intelligence Community to know this is happening, but if they don't inform the people who are being victimized, who are being attacked in this way, I think that really blunts the effectiveness of the availability of the intelligence…I just want to be sure our policies keep pace with the magnitude and accelerated nature of the threat.” (Beginning at 4:52)

During the hearing, Senator King also addressed the ongoing internal conflict in Venezuela, recent reports that the Taliban has suggested it would support preventing Afghanistan from becoming a platform for international terrorist groups, and asked CIA Director Gina Haspel if Iran continues to abide by the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which President Trump exited in May 2018. In addition to Director Haspel, witnesses before the Intelligence Committee today were Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Christopher Wray, Director of the National Security Agency General Paul Nakasone, Director of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency Robert Cardillo, and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency Gen. Robert Ashley. 

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, Senator King is recognized as a thoughtful voice on national security and foreign policy issues in the Senate. In addition to his committee work, he serves on the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, the Senate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Observer Group, and the Cyberspace Solarium Commission.