After a meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump, Mitt Romney said he is looking forward to Trump's administration.

Romney met with Trump at a golf course in New Jersey on Saturday.

The 2012 Republican presidential nominee was an outspoken critic of Trump during the election, calling him a "con man" and a "fraud." But the two have started to make amends since the election. Romney called Trump to congratulate him after his win.

POOL

Bedminster, New Jersey - 19 November 2016

++CONTINUOUS SHOT++

1. US President-elect Donald Trump and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney walking out and shaking hands after meeting

2. SOUNDBITE (Englishll) Mitt Romney, 2012 Republican presidential candidate:

"We had a far-reaching conversation with regards to the various theatres in the world where there are interests of the United States of real significance. We discussed those areas and exchanged our views on those topics. Very thorough and in-depth discussion in the time we had. And, I appreciate the chance to speak with the president-elect, and look forward to the coming administration and the things they are doing. Thank you."

3. Romney walking to car, car driving off

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: apus067254

After a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump, Mitt Romney said he is looking forward to Trump's administration.

Romney met with Trump at a golf course in New Jersey on Saturday.

The 2012 Republican presidential nominee was an outspoken critic of Trump during the election, calling him a "con man" and a "fraud." But the two have started to make amends since the election. Romney called Trump to congratulate him after his win.

POOL

Bedminster, New Jersey - 19 November 2016

++CONTINUOUS SHOT++

1. President-elect Donald Trump and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney walking out and shaking hands after meeting

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitt Romney, 2012 Republican presidential candidate:

"We had a far-reaching conversation with regards to the various theatres in the world where there are interests of the United States of real significance. We discussed those areas and exchanged our views on those topics. Very thorough and in-depth discussion in the time we had. And, I appreciate the chance to speak with the President-elect, and look forward to the coming administration and the things they are doing. Thank you."

3. Romney walking to car, car driving off

After a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump, Mitt Romney said he is looking forward to Trump's administration.

Romney met with Trump at a golf course in New Jersey on Saturday.

The 2012 Republican presidential nominee was an outspoken critic of Trump during the election, calling him a "con man" and a "fraud." But the two have started to make amends since the election. Romney called Trump to congratulate him after his win.

POOL

Bedminster, New Jersey - 19 November 2016

++CONTINUOUS SHOT++

1. President-elect Donald Trump and 2012 Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney walking out and shaking hands after meeting

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitt Romney, 2012 Republican presidential candidate:

"We had a far-reaching conversation with regards to the various theatres in the world where there are interests of the United States of real significance. We discussed those areas and exchanged our views on those topics. Very thorough and in-depth discussion in the time we had. And, I appreciate the chance to speak with the President-elect, and look forward to the coming administration and the things they are doing. Thank you."

3. Romney walking to car, car driving off

In a gesture of reconciliation with establishment Republicans, President-elect Donald Trump plans to meet with 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who lambasted Trump as a "con man" and a "fraud" in a stinging speech in March.

Trump responded by repeatedly referring to Romney as a "loser."

The two began mending fences after Trump's victory when Romney called with congratulations.

They are to meet this weekend, a transition official says.

Campaign manager Kellyanne Conway says they are still "working on" the meeting.

RNC communications director Sean Spicer wouldn't comment to the Fox News Channel on whether Trump was set to offer Romney a position in the administration now being formed.

But when asked what the pair was expected to discuss, the Republican strategist said only that "they're going to have a conversation."

US POOL

Salt Lake City - 3 March 2016

1. Pan, Mitt Romney walking on stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitt Romney, Former Republican Presidential Nominee:

"Here's what I know, Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud, his promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He's playing members of the American public for suckers, he gets a free ride to the White House, and all we get is a lousy hat. His domestic policies would lead to recession, his foreign policies would make America and the world less safe, he has neither the temperament nor the judgment to be president and his personal qualities would mean that America would cease to be a shining city on a hill."

US POOL

Portland, Maine - 3 March 2016

3. Various of Trump at rally

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Candidate

"I backed Mitt Romney. I backed him. You can see how loyal he is. He was begging for my endorsement. I could have said, 'Mitt, drop to your knees'. He would have dropped to his knees. He was begging."

US POOL

Fountain Hills, Arizona - 19 March 2016

5. Donald Trump walking to podium

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate:

"You have these stiffs like a (2012 presidential candidate) Mitt Romney - the guy is a total stiff. Did he let us down? This guy is a loser. Did he let us down? I mean, here's a guy, goes up, he's so devastated, he forgot to campaign in the final month, he gave it to Obama, believe me, that election. I'm going to beat Hillary so badly, but let me just tell you, beating Obama four years ago was easier than beating Hillary Clinton now, believe me, and Mitt Romney choked, pure and simple, he choked, he choked like a dog and that's not going to happen."

AP TELEVISION

St. Augustine, Florida - 13 August 2012

7. Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney at campaign event in Florida

8. Cutaway of crowd

9. Romney waving to crowd

AP TELEVISION

Wisconsin - 12 August 2012

10. Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan in front of campaign bus

11. Mitt Romney's campaign bus driving down street in Wisconsin

In a gesture of reconciliation with establishment Republicans, President-elect Donald Trump plans to meet with 2012 Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, who lambasted Trump as a "con man" and a "fraud" in a stinging speech in March.

Trump responded by repeatedly referring to Romney as a "loser."

The two began mending fences after Trump's victory when Romney called with congratulations.

They are to meet this weekend, a transition official says.

Campaign manager Kellyanne Conway says they are still "working on" the meeting.

RNC communications director Sean Spicer wouldn't comment to the Fox News Channel on whether Trump was set to offer Romney a position in the administration now being formed.

But when asked what the pair was expected to discuss, the Republican strategist said only that "they're going to have a conversation."

US POOL

Salt Lake City - 3 March 2016

1. Pan, Mitt Romney walking on stage

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mitt Romney, Former Republican Presidential Nominee:

"Here's what I know, Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud, his promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He's playing members of the American public for suckers, he gets a free ride for to the White House, and all we get is a lousy hat. His domestic policies would lead to recession, his foreign policies would make America and the world less safe, he has neither the temperament nor the judgment to be president his personal qualities would mean that America would cease to be a shining city on a hill. I'm convinced America has greatness ahead and this is a time for choosing, God bless us to choose a nominee who will make that vision a reality."

US POOL

Portland, Maine - 3 March 2016

3. Various of Trump at rally

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, Republican Presidential Candidate

"I backed Mitt Romney. I backed him. You can see how loyal he is. He was begging for my endorsement. I could have said, 'Mitt, drop to your knees.' He would have dropped to his knees. He was begging."

US POOL

Fountain Hills, Arizona - 19 March 2016

5. Donald Trump walking to podium

6. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, Republican presidential candidate:

"You have these stiffs like a (2012 presidential candidate) Mitt Romney - the guy is a total stiff. Did he let us down? This guy is a loser. Did he let us down? I mean, here's a guy, goes up, he's so devastated, he forgot to campaign in the final month, he gave it to Obama, believe me, that election. I'm going to beat Hillary so badly, but let me just tell you, beating Obama four years ago was easier than beating Hillary Clinton now, believe me, and Mitt Romney choked, pure and simple, he choked like a dog and that's not going to happen."

AP TELEVISION

St. Augustine, Florida - 13 August 2012

7. Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney at campaign event in Florida

8. Cutaway of crowd

9. Romney waving to crowd

AP TELEVISION

Wisconsin - 12 August 2012

10. Mitt Romney and his running mate Paul Ryan in front of campaign bus

11. Mitt Romney's campaign bus driving down street in Wisconsin

US President Donald Trump says his Republican party needs to "get tougher and fight" against the Democrat led impeachment inquiry.

Trump made the comments during a White House Cabinet meeting in which he again called the investigation "phony" and said "Democrats are trying to hurt the Republican Party" in the upcoming 2020 Election.

A growing number of Republicans have been critical of Trump following his decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria, followed by the announcement that the administration would host next summer's G-7 meeting at Trump's Doral private golf club outside Miami.  Trump has since reversed the Doral decision, saying he will host the meetings somewhere else.

Trump said though he believes Democrats "fight dirty" and are "lousy politicians," they have two things he admires: "they're vicious and they stick together."

He then called out Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney for his frequent criticisms of Trump and for "breaking off" from the party.  

"They don't have people like that," Trump said referring to the Democrats. "They stick together."

The president told reporters Democrats want to impeach him "and they want to do it as quick as possible" because he says they're afraid Trump is going to win the election.

Washington, DC - 21 October 2019

1. Wide shot of US President Donald Trump talking in Cabinet room

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"So there's a phony investigation. I watched a couple of people on television today talking about it. They were talking about what a phony deal it is, what a phony investigation it is. And the Republicans have to get tougher and fight. We have some that are great fighters, but they have to get tougher and fight because the Democrats are trying to hurt the Republican Party for the election, which is coming up."

3. Cutaway of Cabinet members

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"(Reporter question: You said the Republicans need to get tougher and fight. What are you talking about?)

Well I think the Democrats fight dirty. I think the Democrats are lousy politicians with lousy policy. They want open borders. They don't care about crime. They want sanctuary cities. They don't care about drugs, they don't care about almost anything. They don't care about USMCA, how about that? I think they're lousy politicians. But two things they have: they're vicious and they stick together. They don't have Mitt Romney in their midst. They don't have people like that. They stick together. You never see them break off. You never see somebody go out and.."

5. Mid shot of Trump speaking

6 . SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"This whole thing is very bad for our country. In the midst of that, I'm trying to get out of wars. We may have to get in wars, too, OK? We may have to get in wars. We're better prepared than we've ever been. If Iran does something, they'll be hit like they've never been hit before. I mean, we have things that we're looking at. But can you imagine? I have to fight off these these low-lifes at the same time, I'm negotiating these very important things, that should have been done during Obama and Bush and even before that. All right. So that's where we are right now."

7. Cutaway of Cabinet members

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"(On impeachment) Well I think they want to. Any Democrat wants to because they're not going to beat me in the election. So of course, they want to impeach. Why wouldn't they want to impeach me? It's so, it's so illegitimate. It cannot be the way the founders, our great founders, meant this to be. But I see this guy, Congressman Al Green, say we have to impeach him, otherwise, he's going to win the election. What's that all about? But that's exactly what they're saying. We have to impeach him because otherwise he's going to win. I'm going to win the election."

9. Wide shot of Trump in Cabinet Room

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"You know you had a Never-Trumper-Bush, you have heard of those. Those people might be worse than the Democrats, the Never-Trumpers. The good news is they're dying off fast. They're on artificial respiration, I think. But, no impeachment, uh, they want to impeach and they want to do it as quick as possible. And that's pretty much the story, ok?"

11. Wide shot of press and Cabinet members

President Donald Trump says his Republican party needs to "get tougher and fight" against the Democrat led impeachment inquiry.

Trump made the comments during a White House Cabinet meeting in which he again called the investigation "phony" and said "Democrats are trying to hurt the Republican Party" in the upcoming 2020 Election.

A growing number of Republicans have been critical of Trump following his decision to pull U.S. troops out of Syria, followed by the announcement that the administration would host next summer's G-7 meeting at Trump's Doral private golf club outside Miami.  Trump has since reversed the Doral decision, saying he will host the meetings somewhere else.

Trump said though he believes Democrats "fight dirty" and are "lousy politicians," they have two things he admires: "they're vicious and they stick together."

He then called out Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney for his frequent criticisms of Trump and for "breaking off" from the party.  

"They don't have people like that," Trump said referring to the Democrats. "They stick together."

The president told reporters Democrats want to impeach him "and they want to do it as quick as possible" because he says they're afraid Trump is going to win the election.

Washington, DC - 21 October 2019

1. Wide shot of Trump talking in Cabinet room

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"So there's a phony investigation. I watched a couple of people on television today talking about it. They were talking about what a phony deal it is, what a phony investigation it is. And the Republicans have to get tougher and fight. We have some that are great fighters, but they have to get tougher and fight because the Democrats are trying to hurt the Republican Party for the election, which is coming up."

3. Cutaway of Cabinet members

4. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"(Reporter question: You said the Republicans need to get tougher and fight. What are you talking about?)

Well I think the Democrats fight dirty. I think the Democrats are lousy politicians with lousy policy. They want open borders. They don't care about crime. They want sanctuary cities. They don't care about drugs, they don't care about almost anything. They don't care about USMCA, how about that? I think they're lousy politicians. But two things they have: they're vicious and they stick together. They don't have Mitt Romney in their midst. They don't have people like that. They stick together. You never see them break off. You never see somebody go out and.."

5. Mid shot of Trump speaking

6 . SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"This whole thing is very bad for our country. In the midst of that, I'm trying to get out of wars. We may have to get in wars, too, OK? We may have to get in wars. We're better prepared than we've ever been. If Iran does something, they'll be hit like they've never been hit before. I mean, we have things that we're looking at. But can you imagine? I have to fight off these these low-lifes at the same time, I'm negotiating these very important things, that should have been done during Obama and Bush and even before that. All right. So that's where we are right now."

7. Cutaway of Cabinet members

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"(On impeachment) Well I think they want to. Any Democrat wants to because they're not going to beat me in the election. So of course, they want to impeach. Why wouldn't they want to impeach me? It's so, it's so illegitimate. It cannot be the way the founders, our great founders, meant this to be. But I see this guy, Congressman Al Green, say we have to impeach him, otherwise, he's going to win the election. What's that all about? But that's exactly what they're saying. We have to impeach him because otherwise he's going to win. I'm going to win the election."

9. Wide shot of Trump in Cabinet Room

10. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, U.S. President:

"You know you had a Never-Trumper-Bush, you have heard of those. Those people might be worse than the Democrats, the Never-Trumpers. The good news is they're dying off fast. They're on artificial respiration, I think. But, no impeachment, uh, they want to impeach and they want to do it as quick as possible. And that's pretty much the story, ok?"

11. Wide shot of press and Cabinet members

"On October 1st 2016 Donald Trump again questioned the integrity of the nation's voting system.

The US Republican presidential nominee warned his supporters to keep a close eye on polling places after they vote next month - especially in ""certain areas.""

Trump made the comments on during a rally in Manheim, Pennsylvania.

He said, ""We can't lose an election because of, you know what I'm talking about,"" before adding: ""A lot of bad things happen. I don't want to lose for that reason.""

Trump has repeatedly suggested that only election fraud could stop him from becoming president.

There has never been evidence of widespread voting fraud in the United States.

***

The Republican presidential candidate said that in private business, he ""brilliantly used those laws"" to ""pay as little tax as legally possible"" during turbulent economic times.

But added that he now intends to use his tax law expertise to ""fix"" the complexity of those laws.

He spoke in the wake of a New York Times report that said he reported losing more than 900 million US dollars, which legally could have helped him avoid paying taxes for nearly two decades.

He did not say the article was correct, and did not dispute it.

***

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump blurted out lewd and sexually charged comments about women as he waited to make a cameo appearance on a soap opera in 2005.

The Republican presidential nominee issued a rare apology on Friday.

Trump bragged about kissing, groping and trying to have sex with women on audio and video recordings obtained by The Washington Post and NBC News.

In a conversation with Billy Bush, then a host of the television show ""Access Hollywood, the celebrity businessman boasted: ""When you're a star, they let you do it.""

The remarks were caught by a live microphone that Trump didn't appear to know was recording their conversation.

In a statement released by his campaign, Trump said: ""This was locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago. Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course - not even close. I apologise if anyone was offended.""

***

About half a dozen people gathered at a downtown square and displayed the pinata, which was holding a banner reading ""Let's build bridges, not walls. Let's stop Donald Trump.""

The group of protesters, smaller than the number of reporters covering the event, later hung the pinata and hit it several times with a stick before burning it.

In Mexico, pinatas represent evil and to overcome it, one must break the pinata, which rewards you with candy stuffed inside at the end.

***

About 200 women, dressed in black, sat on the sidewalk outside Trump Tower during a protest in New York City on October 18th.

Organisers say the sit-in, which emphasised the concerns of women and immigrants, was one of many protests being held nationwide against Republican US presidential nominee Donald Trump.

The demonstration lasted about a half-hour.

Police stood by but did not intervene.

Trump both owns and lives in Trump Tower - and also coordinates his presidential campaign from there.

He was scheduled for appearances in Colorado on October 18th.

***

US presidential hopeful Donald Trump on October 20th mocked his much-derided comment at the presidential debate that he might not accept the results of the election.

Trump kicked off a rally in Delaware, Ohio, by saying that he ""would like to promise and pledge to all of my voters and supports and to all of the people of the United States that I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election.""

But he added: ""If I win.""

Trump is continuing to raise concerns about the integrity of the election, despite a lack of evidence of widespread voter fraud in the country.

***

Democratic US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has rebuked Donald Trump for refusing to say he'll respect the outcome of the upcoming election, saying that her Republican rival is now attacking ""democracy itself.""

Speaking in Florida on October 25th, Clinton said she has ""serious doubts"" about whether Trump understands the meaning of the president's oath of office to ""preserve, protect and defend the constitution.""

The former Secretary of State said that Trump is ""attacking everything that has set our country apart for 240 years.""

She pointed to his refusal at the final presidential debate to commit to conceding the race if he loses.

During the rally, the crowd broke into a spontaneous singing of ""Happy Birthday"" ahead of Clinton's 69th birthday on October 26th.

***

President Barack Obama is unloading on Donald Trump in battleground North Carolina and is suggesting to voters there that ""the republic is at risk"" if the GOP nominee makes it to the White House.

Obama told the Chapel Hill crowd Hillary Clinton is a ""steady ... tough"" and well-prepared for the job. He said Trump doesn't have the character for the job.

The president said Trump has many supporters who see him as ""their voice."" But he argued that Trump has never cared about working people. Obama also cited Trump's litany of boorish comments about women, his mockery of Republican Sen. John McCain's status as a war hero and his spat with the family of a Muslim soldier killed in Iraq.

***

US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton arrived at a Chappaqua, New York polling station to cast her ballot on November 8th.

Clinton arrived with her husband, former US President Bill Clinton to the polling station where voters snapped photos and cheered as Clinton cast her paper ballot.

***

President Barack Obama has met with President-elect Donald Trump at the White House on November 10th.

Obama said that they had an ""excellent"" and ""wide-ranging"" conversation.

Obama met with Trump in the Oval Office for more than an hour to discuss the transition of power.

Obama said he was encouraged by Trump's wanting to work with his team on issues facing the country. He said it's important for all ""to now come together.""

Later, Trump will go to Capitol Hill to talk with congressional leaders about the Republicans' legislative agenda for 2017.

***

Stephen Bannon, a leading force of the far-right, a media mogul and professional provocateur, a man who made a career out of roiling the establishment from the outside, just landed squarely on the inside.

Donald Trump's pick for chief strategist and senior counselor signals the president-elect has no intention of abandoning his brash, outsider instincts as he puts together his new government.

Trump didn't give Bannon the top White House job - that went to Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus.

Still, Trump made clear on Sunday that a man many credit with righting the businessman's campaign - and one others accuse of amplifying a bigoted fringe - would have a plum position in the West Wing.

Bannon joined Trump's election team as chief executive late in the campaign, following the departure of Trump's second campaign team in August.

He quickly became a member of Trump's inner circle, frequently traveling with the candidate and working to re-shape his message to emphasize Trump's populist and outsider appeal.

Bannon came from Breitbart News, an unabashedly pro-Trump outlet that had declared war on GOP leaders, including House Speaker Paul Ryan, with whom Trump will have to work to pass his agenda if Ryan retains his role.

***

President-elect Donald Trump is offering the post of attorney general to Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, one of the Trump's closest and most consistent allies.

That's according to a senior Trump official, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the conversation.

The official on November 18th wouldn't say whether Sessions had accepted the job, which left open the possibility that the arrangement was not finalised.

Sessions was the first senator to endorse Trump and was a close adviser throughout the campaign.

Trump released a statement November 17th after a meeting with the senator saying he was ""unbelievably impressed"" with Sessions.

The Alabama Republican previously struggled with a Senate confirmation hearing when he was nominated for a federal judgeship in 1986. He was dogged by racist comments he was accused of making while serving as U.S. attorney in Alabama.

He later withdrew from consideration for the post.

President-elect Donald Trump has picked Mike Pompeo - a Kansas congressman - to be CIA director.

That's according to a Trump transition official.

Pompeo is a conservative Republican and a fierce critic of President Barack Obama's nuclear deal with Iran.

Trump is beginning to fill out his governing team, and the transition official says Trump will make the Pompeo announcement on Friday morning, along with his nomination of Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions to be attorney general and his selection of retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn to be national security adviser.

The official wasn't authorised to disclose the decisions ahead of Trump's announcement and insisted on anonymity.

***

President-elect Donald Trump agreed November 18th to pay 25 million US dollars to settle lawsuits against his now-defunct Trump University for real estate investors, averting a trial in a potentially embarrassing case that he had vowed during the campaign to keep fighting.

The settlement came 10 days before jury selection was scheduled to begin in one of the three cases.

The complaints accused Trump University, which wasn't an accredited school, of defrauding students who paid up to 35,000 US dollars a year to enroll in programs that promised to share Trump's real estate secrets.

If the proposed settlement is approved by a federal judge, about 6,000 students covered in two-class action lawsuits in San Diego would share 21 million US dollars, and Trump will pay 4 million US dollars to settle a complaint filed by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in 2013.

Under the terms, Trump admitted no wrongdoing.

The settlement lifts what would probably be a major obstacle for Trump as he works to fill key executive branch positions and get acquainted with foreign leaders.

The San Diego trial, on a case filed in 2010, was expected to last several weeks, guaranteeing daily news coverage of a controversy that dogged him during the campaign.

***

President-elect Donald Trump is holding another round of meetings at his New Jersey golf club with people who could fill out his cabinet.

The meetings come as Trump told reporters outside the clubhouse on November 20th that he was getting very close on new appointments.

Among those who met with Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence on Sunday were Hollywood talent agent Ari Emmanuel.

His brother, Rahm Emanuel, was President Barack Obama's chief of staff and now the mayor of Chicago.

No details were given on what their meeting was about.

Peter Kirsanow, who is an attorney and member of the US Civil Rights Commission, also met with Trump and Pence.

Kirsanow also served on the National Labor Relations Board during the George W. Bush administration.

Also on Sunday former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani arrived through a side door at the clubhouse.

When reporters asked Trump what he planned on discussing with Giuliani, Trump smiled and replied, ""Wouldn't you like to know.""

Trump also met with billionaire investor Wilbur Ross as the president-elect searches for a secretary of commerce.

Asked Sunday if he's considering Ross for the post, the president-elect replied: ""That's what we're looking for.""

When asked by reporters what he thought comments made by the cast of ""Hamilton,"" Trump said they were ""very inappropriate.""

He's demanded an apology for a message an actor delivered from the stage to Trump's running mate about the need for diversity in America.

Pence who attended the Broadway play said he was not offended by the message.

***

US President Barack Obama said December 16th based on intelligence assessments, Russia was responsible for hacking into the Democratic National Committee email server, interferring in the presidential election with the goal of supporting Republican candidate Donald Trump.

Speaking at his end of year news conference, Obama defended his administration's handling of the situation and said it is very important for everyone to ""distinguish between the politics of the election"" and the intergrity of the process.

***

US President Barack Obama has imposed sanctions on Russian officials and intelligence services in retaliation for Russia's hacking of American political sites and email accounts ahead of the November US presidential election.

The State Department also has kicked out 35 Russian diplomats from its embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco, giving them and their families 72 hours to leave the US the diplomats were declared persona non grata for acting in a ""manner inconsistent with their diplomatic status.""

Obama said Russians will no longer have access to two Russian government-owned compounds in the United States, in Maryland and in New York.

In a bid to expose Moscow's cyber aggression, the US released a detailed report about Russia's hacking infrastructure that it said was designed to help computer specialists identify compromised systems and prevent more hacking.

Russian officials have denied the Obama administration's accusation that the Russian government was trying to influence the US presidential election.

US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia's goal was to help Donald Trump win - an assessment Trump has dismissed as ridiculous.

04:52:11

"

"00:00:00

Trump Questions Integrity of Voting System

4058333

POOL

Manheim, Pennsylvania - 1 October 2016

1. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US Republican presidential candidate:

""And you've got to watch your polling booths, because I hear too many stories about Pennsylvania - certain areas. I hear too many bad stories, and we can't lose an election because of you know what I'm talking about. So go and vote and then go check out areas, because a lot of bad things happen, and we don't want to lose for that reason. We don't want to lose, but we especially...we don't want to lose for that reason. So go over and watch - and watch carefully.""

00:15:03

Trump: I have used tax laws ""brilliantly""

4058634

POOL

Pueblo - 3 October 2016

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US presidential nominee:

""Honestly I have brilliantly, I have brilliantly used those laws. I have often said on the campaign trail that I have a fiduciary responsibility to pay no more tax than as legally required like anybody.""

00:30:07

Audio of Trump's remarks about women

4059483

AP TELEVISION

New York - 7 October 2016

3. Screen shot of tweet from Hillary Clinton: ""This is horrific. We cannot allow this man to become president.""

4. Screen shot of Donald Trump statement from campaign website: ""This was locker room banter, a private conversation that took place many years ago. Bill Clinton has said far worse to me on the golf course - not even close. I apologise if anyone was offended.""

00:38:22

Protesters burn Donald Trump pinata in Mexico

4060282

AP TELEVISION

Mexico City - 12 October 2016

5. Various of pinata resembling US presidential candidate Donald Trump holding a banner reading (in Spanish) ""Let's build bridges, not walls. Let's stop Donald Trump.""

6. Protester hitting pinata with a stick while others chant (Spanish) ""Hard!""

7. Another protester hitting pinata with stick while shouting

8. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Maria del Carmen Cruz, protester:

""I feel relief. I feel satisfaction of having hit him, even if it was his pinata. He deserves more, he deserves to go to hell.""

9. Smoke billowing from pinata

01:05:14

Anti-Trump Women Protest Outside Trump Tower

4061220

AP TELEVISION

New York - 18 Ocotober 2016

++EDITOR'S NOTE - MILD EXPLETIVES PRESENT ON BANNERS IN THE BACKGROUND OF SHOTS++

10. Various of demonstrators chanting outside Trump Tower, owned by Republican US presidential candidate Donald Trump

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Noushin Ahdoot, student demonstrator:

""Donald Trump has legitimised ignorance,.""

12. Demonstrator holding sign reading (English) ""Keep your lawas off my body.""

01:20:03

Trump: Will honour election result - if he wins

4061641

POOL

Delaware - 20 October 2016

13. SOUNDBITE (English) Donald Trump, US Republican presidential candidate:

"" I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election... if I win.""

01:38:02

Clinton: Trump is Attacking Democracy Itself

4062463

US POOL

Coconut Creek, Florida - 25 October 2016

14. Hillary Clinton walking into rally

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Hillary Clinton, Democratic US presidential nominee:

""Donald Trump is attacking everything that has set our country apart for 240 years. Now, after spending his entire campaign attacking one group of Americans after another - immigrants, African Americans, Latinos, women, POWs, Muslims, people with disabilities - now his final target is democracy itself.""

02:08:01

Obama: Trump Would Put 'Republic at Risk'

4063891

POOL

Raleigh, North Carolina - November 2, 2016

16. President Barack Obama enters

17. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama

"" I ran against Mitt Romney -- I thought I'd be a better president, but I never thought that the republic was at risk if they were elected.""

18. SOUNDBITE (English) President Barack Obama

"" This guy is temperamentally-unfit to be commander in chief and is not equipped to be president

02:36:12

Hillary Clinton Casts Ballot on Election Day

4064843

AP TELEVISION

Chappaqua - 8 November 2016

19. Various of Hillary Clinton voting

02:41:17

Obama meets Trump at the White House

4065376

AP TELEVISION

Washington DC - 10 November 2016

20. US President-elect Donald Trump meeting with President Barack Obama

UPSOUND (English) Barack Obama, US President: ""Well I just had the opportunity to have an excellent conversation with president-elect Trump. It was wide-ranging, we talked about some of the organisational issues in setting up the White House. We talked about foreign policy we talked about domestic policy

03:01:08

FILE Trump picks Bannon as chief strategist

4065894

POOL

FILE: New York - 20 August 2016

21. Various of Donald Trump's campaign chief executive (at the time) Stephen Bannon who was named by President-elect Donald Trump his chief strategist and senior counselor

03:11:16

Trump Picks Sessions for AG; Pompeo for CIA

4066788

AP TELEVISION, US POOL

AP TELEVISION

New York - 17 November 2016

22. Jeff Sessions and Kellyanne Conway at Trump Tower

US POOL

Madison, Alabama - 28 February 2016

23. Sessions and Trump at rally

AP TELEVISION

Washington - 28 June 2016

24. Rep. Mike Pompeo at news conference

03:30:05

Trump agrees to $25M Trump U settlement

4066867

AP TELEVISION

San Diego - 18 November 2016

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Daniel Petrocelli, Trump's Lead Attorney:

""A very important part of our willingness to compromise this case was the acknowledgement that there was no fault or liability on the part of President-elect Trump or Trump University""

03:42:09

Trump, Pence meet with possible cabinet picks

4067116

US POOL

Bedminster - 20 November 2016

US POOL

Bedminster, New Jersey - 20 November 2016

26. Trump and Pence greet Ross on doorstep UPSOUND (English) Reporter: ""Is Mr. Ross a candidate for Commerce Secretary, sir?"" Donald Trump, President-elect: ""Commerce Secretary. That's what we're looking for."" Reporter: ""Mr. Trump are you still upset about Hamilton?"" Trump: ""They were very inappropriate.""

03:59:02

Obama: Russia responsible for DNC hacking

4071740

AP TELEVISION

Washington DC - 16 December 2016

27. Wide shot from behind Obama speaking at news conference

28. SOUNDBITE (English) Barack Obama, US President:

""There hasn't been a lot of squabbling. What we've simply said is the facts, which are that based on uniform intelligence assessments, the Russians were responsible for hacking the DNC

And my hope is that the president-elect is going to similarly be concerned with making sure that we don't have potential foreign influence in our election process. I don't think any American wants that.

04:33:11

Obama retaliates after Russian election hacking

4073499

AP TELEVISION

Washington - 29 December 2016

29. Wide of Russian Embassy

30. Close up of Russian flag

31. Close up of Russian Embassy sign

04:44:08

35 Russian diplomats told to leave US

4073504

AP TELEVISION

San Francisco - 29 December 2016

32. Wide exterior view of Russian consulate

33. Mid of plaque on consulate wall and military hat on fence"

Voters in Massachusetts are deciding who advances to the November general election to run for governor, U.S. Senate, U.S. House and a slew of other offices.

One of the closest watched contests in Tuesday's primary pits longtime incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano against Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley. If elected, she'd be the first black woman Massachusetts has sent to Congress.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, a moderate seeking a second term, faces conservative Springfield minister Scott Lively. Jay Gonzalez and Robert Massie are competing in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Three Republicans are seeking their party's nomination to oppose Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren in November. Warren is unopposed in the primary.

Several members of Massachusetts' all-Democratic U.S. House delegation faced challenges in Tuesday's primary, which also featured races for governor and a Republican contest for the U.S. Senate.

Another veteran congressman, Rep. Richard Neal, also faced a spirited primary challenge from Tahirah Amatul-Wadud, a black attorney from Springfield who if elected would be the first Muslim to serve in Congress from Massachusetts. Neal, the dean of the state's House delegation, first was elected in 1989.

Three other Democratic incumbents _ Reps. Stephen Lynch, William Keating and Joe Kennedy _ also faced primary opponents Tuesday. That's a stark difference from just two years ago, when not a single Democratic incumbent was challenged in the primaries.,

Another Democrat, U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas, is retiring at the end of this term and the open seat has touched off a political scramble with 10 candidates on the Democratic primary ballot.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, a moderate who has been popular with voters in what is perceived as one of the nation's bluest states, faced a primary challenge from Scott Lively, a conservative minister from Springfield.

Lively, who has little money or staff, calls Baker a "RINO" ("Republican in name only") and declares he is "100 percent" behind President Donald Trump.

A pair of lesser-known Democrats, Jay Gonzalez and Robert Massie, are battling in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Both contend that Baker's support among voters is soft and that his administration has failed to make significant strides in many areas, particularly the problems plaguing the Boston-area transit system known as the T.

Democratic U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren is unopposed in the Democratic primary, but three Republicans are competing for the nod to face her in November: state Rep. Geoff Diehl, who was the co-chair of Trump's Massachusetts campaign; John Kingston, a businessman who once tried to fund a third-party challenge to Trump but has become more supportive of the president; and Beth Lindstrom, who served in former Republican Gov. Mitt Romney's administration.

With the primary falling on the day after Labor Day, just as many voters return from summer vacations and the new school year is starting, turnout was expected to be modest. Democratic Secretary of State William Galvin said he had little choice because other possible primary dates conflicted with religious holidays or posed other obstacles.

Galvin himself faced a primary challenge Tuesday from Boston City Councilor Josh Zakim.

Boston – 30 August, 2018

1. SOUNDBITE Bob Salsberg, AP Statehouse Reporter:

++PARTIALLY COVERED++

"There are several interesting storylines going into the Massachusetts primary on Tuesday. Let's begin with talking about the U.S. Senate race, where Elizabeth Warren, seeking a second term, is unopposed in the Democratic primary, but there are three Republicans who are vying for the chance to oppose her in November: Geoff Diehl, John Kingston and Beth Lindstrom. Now, none of – all three of them would be considered a long shot to beat Warren in November, but from the Republican perspective, this is an opportunity, perhaps, to point out some of what they consider to be Warren's weaknesses. They have said that she's a divisive force, and remember that Warren is among the Democrats most prominently mentioned as potential contenders to President Donald Trump in 2020."

Malden, Massachusetts – 30 April, 2013

2. Still image of "I Voted" stickers resting on a table at a polling place

Woburn, Massachusetts – 8 August, 2018

3. Still image of U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., during a town hall style gathering

(From left to right)

Worcester, Massachusetts – 28 April, 2018

4. Still image of Geoff Diehl addressing the Massachusetts Republican Convention at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester, Massachusetts – 28 April, 2018

5. Still image of John Kingston addressing the Massachusetts Republican Convention at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Worcester, Massachusetts – 28 April, 2018

6. Still image of Beth Lindstrom addressing the Massachusetts Republican Convention at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts

Worcester, Massachusetts – 1 June, 2018

7. Still image of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren speaking at the 2018 Massachusetts Democratic Party Convention in Worcester, Massachusetts

8. SOUNDBITE Bob Salsberg, AP Statehouse Reporter:

++PARTIALLY COVERED++

"You also have the House races here in Massachusetts, which are interesting from the perspective of well, none of them are really expected to flip to Republican in November. Five of the eight incumbent Democrats who are seeking re-election in November have primary challenges on Tuesday. Now, that's extremely unusual, because if you look back just two years ago, not a single Democratic House incumbent was challenged in the party primary here."

Washington DC – 8 December, 2016

9. Still image of the Capitol Building as seen in Washington

(Top: From left to right. Bottom: From left to right.)

Boston – 7 August, 2018

10. Still image of Incumbent Democratic congressman Michael Capuano at the University of Massachusetts, in Boston

Springfield, Massachusetts – 26 March, 2011

11. Still image of U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield, speaking at a public hearing held by the legislative redistricting committee in Springfield, Massachusetts, March 26, 2011

Taunton, Massachusetts – 6 September, 2012

12. Still image of U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, son of former U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II and grandson of the late Robert F. Kennedy, addressing a crowd during a watch party in Taunton, Massachusetts, Thursday, Sept. 6, 2012

Quincy, Massachusetts – 14 September, 2010

13. Still image of U.S. Rep. William Keating addressing supporters during his primary night campaign victory rally, Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010, in Quincy, Massachusetts

Unknown location – 2013

14. Still file photo of U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch

15. SOUNDBITE Bob Salsberg, AP Statehouse Reporter:

++PARTIALLY COVERED++

"It's entirely possible that none of those Democrats will actually lose their seats. It is reflective, I think, of a strong progressive movement here in Massachusetts – in particular, where you have the race in the 7th District, where Ayanna Pressley, a Boston city councilor, first black woman elected to the Boston City Council, is challenging Mike Capuano, a longtime congressman serving in that district – not so much on differences in particular issues, but more in terms of leadership and overall vision of where the party and where the country should be headed."

Boston – 7 August, 2018

16. Still image of Boston City Councilor Ayanna Pressley, who is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., during a debate at the University of Massachusetts, in Boston.

Cambridge, Massachusetts – 1 February, 2018

17. Still image of U.S. Rep. Michael Capuano, D-Mass., speaking Feb. 1, 2018, during a town hall-style event at the Cambridge Public Library, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Microsoft has uncovered new Russian hacking efforts targeting U.S. political groups ahead of the midterm elections.

The company said Tuesday that a group tied to the Russian government created fake websites that appeared to spoof two American conservative organizations: the Hudson Institute and the International Republican Institute.

Three other fake sites were designed to look as if they belonged to the U.S. Senate.

Microsoft didn't offer any further description of the fake sites, although it has previously outlined in court filings how this hacking group operated a network of fake sites designed to trick victims into installing malicious software.The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Microsoft's report reflects a "witch hunt" in the U.S. The ministry said Tuesday that Microsoft's statement lacked any proof of Russian involvement because "there can't be any."

The revelation of new hacking efforts arrives just weeks after a similar Microsoft discovery led Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat who is running for re-election, to reveal that Russian hackers tried unsuccessfully to infiltrate her Senate computer network.

The hacking mirrors similar Russian attacks ahead of the 2016 election, which U.S. intelligence officials have said were focused on helping to elect Republican Donald Trump to the presidency by hurting his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

"If you're involved in politics in America at a high level especially if you have views Vladimir Putin doesn't like you should expect to be the target of a campaign to access your e-mails, get into your systems, divulge information or even falsify information against him," Florida Senator Marco Rubio said.

This time, more than helping one political party over another, "this activity is most fundamentally focused on disrupting democracy," Brad Smith, Microsoft's president and chief legal officer, said in an interview this week.

The FBI said Tuesday it's aware of Microsoft's actions to disrupt the sites but the agency wouldn't provide details about whether it's working with the company to combat the hacking group.

Microsoft's court filing last week said the hackers "registered or used" the fake domains at some point after April 20.

Smith said there is no sign the hackers were successful in persuading anyone to click on the fake websites, which could have exposed a target victim to computer infiltration, hidden surveillance and data theft. Both conservative think tanks said they have tried to be vigilant about "spear-phishing" email attacks because their global pro-democracy work has frequently drawn the ire of authoritarian governments.

The Hudson Institute, which promotes American global leadership on multiple fronts, doesn't always see eye-to-eye with President Donald Trump, particularly with respect to Russia. In April, the institute published a report entitled "Countering Russian Kleptocracy" that laid out a blueprint for punishing Russian corruption and discouraging it through sanctions, including on Russia's sovereign debt.

The International Republican Institute, the GOP counterpart to the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, trains foreign political operatives and parties on how to run elections and govern. Its members help political parties organize campaigns and observe election processes with the aim of fixing flaws and improving public confidence in elections.

It is led by a board that includes six Republican senators, and one prominent Russia critic and Senate hopeful, Mitt Romney, who is running for a Utah seat this fall.

The group's president, Daniel Twining, said in a statement that the apparent hacking is "consistent with the campaign of meddling that the Kremlin has waged against organizations that support democracy and human rights."

Microsoft calls the hacking group Strontium; others call it Fancy Bear or APT28. An indictment from U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller has tied it to Russian's main intelligence agency, known as the GRU, and to the 2016 email hacking of both the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign.

Microsoft has waged a legal battle with Strontium since suing it in a Virginia federal court in summer 2016. The company obtained court approval last year allowing it to seize certain fake domains created by the group. It has so far used the courts to shut down 84 fake websites created by the group, including the most recent six announced Tuesday.

Microsoft has argued in court that by setting up fake but realistic-looking domains, the hackers were misusing Microsoft trademarks and services to hack into targeted computer networks, install malware and steal sensitive emails and other data.

Smith also announced Tuesday that the company is offering free cyber security protection to all U.S. political candidates, campaigns and other political organizations, at least so long as they're already using Microsoft's Office 365 productivity software. Facebook and Google have also promoted similar tools to combat campaign interference.

Mountain View, California - 20 October 2014

1. Wide view of Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus

2. Close view of Microsoft sign

Washington, DC - 21 August 2018

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) South Carolina:

"For the record I would like to put in the Microsoft article about the Microsoft operation and it basically says that Microsoft, to their great credit, found out that the Russians were up to it again and the target this time was the International Republican Institute which Senator McCain is the chairman that has been very vocal against Russia's interference in democracies particularly on the Hudson Institute and the United States Senate. To Republicans, if you think the Russians just don't have you in mind, you're making a great mistake. They're trying to undermine the democratic process. Now that we're in charge, we're a natural target."

Mountain View, California - October 20, 2014

4. Various, Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus

Washington, DC - 21 August 2018

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Marco Rubio (R) Florida:

"If you're involved in politics in America at a high level especially if you have views Vladimir Putin doesn't like you should expect to be the target of a campaign to access your e-mails, get into your systems, divulge information or even falsify information against him. It's a very low cost way for him to discredit his opponents but more importantly to sow internal strife in the United States which he views as something that weakens us and and undermines our willingness and our resolve."

Internet - 21 August 2018

6. STILLS Onscreen views of conservative websites that were hacked

Washington, DC -21 August 2018

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Jeff Flake (R) Arizona:

"You know I think you're going to find other avenues as well they've been trying to influence. So they're the bad guys and they're trying to influence our elections. They're trying to, on every level, I think that they felt that they had some success last time and so they'll step it up."

Internet - 21 August 2018

8. STILL, screen grab of U.S. Senate website

Washington, DC - 21 August 2018

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Menendez (D) New Jersey:

"Concern is that they are also trying to hack the Senate as well as conservative think tanks and it just shows if there's no limit to what the Russian Federation under Putin will do to undermine American democracy so we should be doing everything we can. I'm looking forward to the briefing that we will have tomorrow by the administration to understand what it is in fact they're doing but it doesn't seem to me that we have deterred Russian aggression."

Moscow, Russia - 8 August 2018

10. Various, Kremlin video

Microsoft has uncovered new Russian hacking efforts targeting U.S. political groups ahead of the midterm elections.

The company said Tuesday that a group tied to the Russian government created fake websites that appeared to spoof two American conservative organizations: the Hudson Institute and the International Republican Institute.

Three other fake sites were designed to look as if they belonged to the U.S. Senate.

Microsoft didn't offer any further description of the fake sites, although it has previously outlined in court filings how this hacking group operated a network of fake sites designed to trick victims into installing malicious software.The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Microsoft's report reflects a "witch hunt" in the U.S. The ministry said Tuesday that Microsoft's statement lacked any proof of Russian involvement because "there can't be any."

The revelation of new hacking efforts arrives just weeks after a similar Microsoft discovery led Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat who is running for re-election, to reveal that Russian hackers tried unsuccessfully to infiltrate her Senate computer network.

The hacking mirrors similar Russian attacks ahead of the 2016 election, which U.S. intelligence officials have said were focused on helping to elect Republican Donald Trump to the presidency by hurting his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

"If you're involved in politics in America at a high level especially if you have views Vladimir Putin doesn't like you should expect to be the target of a campaign to access your e-mails, get into your systems, divulge information or even falsify information against him," Florida Senator Marco Rubio said.

This time, more than helping one political party over another, "this activity is most fundamentally focused on disrupting democracy," Brad Smith, Microsoft's president and chief legal officer, said in an interview this week.

The FBI said Tuesday it's aware of Microsoft's actions to disrupt the sites but the agency wouldn't provide details about whether it's working with the company to combat the hacking group.

Microsoft's court filing last week said the hackers "registered or used" the fake domains at some point after April 20.

Smith said there is no sign the hackers were successful in persuading anyone to click on the fake websites, which could have exposed a target victim to computer infiltration, hidden surveillance and data theft. Both conservative think tanks said they have tried to be vigilant about "spear-phishing" email attacks because their global pro-democracy work has frequently drawn the ire of authoritarian governments.

The Hudson Institute, which promotes American global leadership on multiple fronts, doesn't always see eye-to-eye with President Donald Trump, particularly with respect to Russia. In April, the institute published a report entitled "Countering Russian Kleptocracy" that laid out a blueprint for punishing Russian corruption and discouraging it through sanctions, including on Russia's sovereign debt.

The International Republican Institute, the GOP counterpart to the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, trains foreign political operatives and parties on how to run elections and govern. Its members help political parties organize campaigns and observe election processes with the aim of fixing flaws and improving public confidence in elections.

It is led by a board that includes six Republican senators, and one prominent Russia critic and Senate hopeful, Mitt Romney, who is running for a Utah seat this fall.

The group's president, Daniel Twining, said in a statement that the apparent hacking is "consistent with the campaign of meddling that the Kremlin has waged against organizations that support democracy and human rights."

Microsoft calls the hacking group Strontium; others call it Fancy Bear or APT28. An indictment from U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller has tied it to Russian's main intelligence agency, known as the GRU, and to the 2016 email hacking of both the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign.

Microsoft has waged a legal battle with Strontium since suing it in a Virginia federal court in summer 2016. The company obtained court approval last year allowing it to seize certain fake domains created by the group. It has so far used the courts to shut down 84 fake websites created by the group, including the most recent six announced Tuesday.

Microsoft has argued in court that by setting up fake but realistic-looking domains, the hackers were misusing Microsoft trademarks and services to hack into targeted computer networks, install malware and steal sensitive emails and other data.

Smith also announced Tuesday that the company is offering free cyber security protection to all U.S. political candidates, campaigns and other political organizations, at least so long as they're already using Microsoft's Office 365 productivity software. Facebook and Google have also promoted similar tools to combat campaign interference.

Mountain View, California - 20 October 2014

1. Wide view of Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus

2. Close view of Microsoft sign

Washington, DC - 21 August 2018

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) South Carolina:

"For the record I would like to put in the Microsoft article about the Microsoft operation and it basically says that Microsoft, to their great credit, found out that the Russians were up to it again and the target this time was the International Republican Institute which Senator McCain is the chairman that has been very vocal against Russia's interference in democracies particularly on the Hudson Institute and the United States Senate. To Republicans, if you think the Russians just don't have you in mind, you're making a great mistake. They're trying to undermine the democratic process. Now that we're in charge, we're a natural target."

Mountain View, California - October 20, 2014

4. Various, Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus

Washington, DC - 21 August 2018

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Marco Rubio (R) Florida:

"If you're involved in politics in America at a high level especially if you have views Vladimir Putin doesn't like you should expect to be the target of a campaign to access your e-mails, get into your systems, divulge information or even falsify information against him. It's a very low cost way for him to discredit his opponents but more importantly to sow internal strife in the United States which he views as something that weakens us and and undermines our willingness and our resolve."

Internet - 21 August 2018

6. STILLS Onscreen views of conservative websites that were hacked

Washington, DC -21 August 2018

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Jeff Flake (R) Arizona:

"You know I think you're going to find other avenues as well they've been trying to influence. So they're the bad guys and they're trying to influence our elections. They're trying to, on every level, I think that they felt that they had some success last time and so they'll step it up."

Internet - 21 August 2018

8. STILL, screen grab of U.S. Senate website

Washington, DC - 21 August 2018

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Menendez (D) New Jersey:

"Concern is that they are also trying to hack the Senate as well as conservative think tanks and it just shows if there's no limit to what the Russian Federation under Putin will do to undermine American democracy so we should be doing everything we can. I'm looking forward to the briefing that we will have tomorrow by the administration to understand what it is in fact they're doing but it doesn't seem to me that we have deterred Russian aggression."

Moscow, Russia - 8 August 2018

10. Various, Kremlin video

Microsoft has uncovered new Russian hacking efforts targeting U.S. political groups ahead of the midterm elections.

The company said Tuesday that a group tied to the Russian government created fake websites that appeared to spoof two American conservative organizations: the Hudson Institute and the International Republican Institute.

Three other fake sites were designed to look as if they belonged to the U.S. Senate.

Microsoft didn't offer any further description of the fake sites, although it has previously outlined in court filings how this hacking group operated a network of fake sites designed to trick victims into installing malicious software.The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Microsoft's report reflects a "witch hunt" in the U.S. The ministry said Tuesday that Microsoft's statement lacked any proof of Russian involvement because "there can't be any."

The revelation of new hacking efforts arrives just weeks after a similar Microsoft discovery led Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat who is running for re-election, to reveal that Russian hackers tried unsuccessfully to infiltrate her Senate computer network.

The hacking mirrors similar Russian attacks ahead of the 2016 election, which U.S. intelligence officials have said were focused on helping to elect Republican Donald Trump to the presidency by hurting his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

"If you're involved in politics in America at a high level especially if you have views Vladimir Putin doesn't like you should expect to be the target of a campaign to access your e-mails, get into your systems, divulge information or even falsify information against him," Florida Senator Marco Rubio said.

This time, more than helping one political party over another, "this activity is most fundamentally focused on disrupting democracy," Brad Smith, Microsoft's president and chief legal officer, said in an interview this week.

The FBI said Tuesday it's aware of Microsoft's actions to disrupt the sites but the agency wouldn't provide details about whether it's working with the company to combat the hacking group.

Microsoft's court filing last week said the hackers "registered or used" the fake domains at some point after April 20.

Smith said there is no sign the hackers were successful in persuading anyone to click on the fake websites, which could have exposed a target victim to computer infiltration, hidden surveillance and data theft. Both conservative think tanks said they have tried to be vigilant about "spear-phishing" email attacks because their global pro-democracy work has frequently drawn the ire of authoritarian governments.

The Hudson Institute, which promotes American global leadership on multiple fronts, doesn't always see eye-to-eye with President Donald Trump, particularly with respect to Russia. In April, the institute published a report entitled "Countering Russian Kleptocracy" that laid out a blueprint for punishing Russian corruption and discouraging it through sanctions, including on Russia's sovereign debt.

The International Republican Institute, the GOP counterpart to the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, trains foreign political operatives and parties on how to run elections and govern. Its members help political parties organize campaigns and observe election processes with the aim of fixing flaws and improving public confidence in elections.

It is led by a board that includes six Republican senators, and one prominent Russia critic and Senate hopeful, Mitt Romney, who is running for a Utah seat this fall.

The group's president, Daniel Twining, said in a statement that the apparent hacking is "consistent with the campaign of meddling that the Kremlin has waged against organizations that support democracy and human rights."

Microsoft calls the hacking group Strontium; others call it Fancy Bear or APT28. An indictment from U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller has tied it to Russian's main intelligence agency, known as the GRU, and to the 2016 email hacking of both the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign.

Microsoft has waged a legal battle with Strontium since suing it in a Virginia federal court in summer 2016. The company obtained court approval last year allowing it to seize certain fake domains created by the group. It has so far used the courts to shut down 84 fake websites created by the group, including the most recent six announced Tuesday.

Microsoft has argued in court that by setting up fake but realistic-looking domains, the hackers were misusing Microsoft trademarks and services to hack into targeted computer networks, install malware and steal sensitive emails and other data.

Smith also announced Tuesday that the company is offering free cyber security protection to all U.S. political candidates, campaigns and other political organizations, at least so long as they're already using Microsoft's Office 365 productivity software. Facebook and Google have also promoted similar tools to combat campaign interference.

Mountain View, California - 20 October 2014

1. Wide view of Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus

2. Close view of Microsoft sign

Washington, DC - 21 August 2018

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) South Carolina:

"For the record I would like to put in the Microsoft article about the Microsoft operation and it basically says that Microsoft, to their great credit, found out that the Russians were up to it again and the target this time was the International Republican Institute which Senator McCain is the chairman that has been very vocal against Russia's interference in democracies particularly on the Hudson Institute and the United States Senate. To Republicans, if you think the Russians just don't have you in mind, you're making a great mistake. They're trying to undermine the democratic process. Now that we're in charge, we're a natural target."

Mountain View, California - October 20, 2014

4. Various, Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus

Washington, DC - 21 August 2018

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Marco Rubio (R) Florida:

"If you're involved in politics in America at a high level especially if you have views Vladimir Putin doesn't like you should expect to be the target of a campaign to access your e-mails, get into your systems, divulge information or even falsify information against him. It's a very low cost way for him to discredit his opponents but more importantly to sow internal strife in the United States which he views as something that weakens us and and undermines our willingness and our resolve."

Internet - 21 August 2018

6. STILLS Onscreen views of conservative websites that were hacked

Washington, DC -21 August 2018

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Jeff Flake (R) Arizona:

"You know I think you're going to find other avenues as well they've been trying to influence. So they're the bad guys and they're trying to influence our elections. They're trying to, on every level, I think that they felt that they had some success last time and so they'll step it up."

Internet - 21 August 2018

8. STILL, screen grab of U.S. Senate website

Washington, DC - 21 August 2018

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Menendez (D) New Jersey:

"Concern is that they are also trying to hack the Senate as well as conservative think tanks and it just shows if there's no limit to what the Russian Federation under Putin will do to undermine American democracy so we should be doing everything we can. I'm looking forward to the briefing that we will have tomorrow by the administration to understand what it is in fact they're doing but it doesn't seem to me that we have deterred Russian aggression."

Moscow, Russia - 8 August 2018

10. Various, Kremlin video

Microsoft has uncovered new Russian hacking efforts targeting U.S. political groups ahead of the mid-term elections.

The company said Tuesday that a group tied to the Russian government created fake websites that appeared to spoof two American conservative organizations: the Hudson Institute and the International Republican Institute.

Three other fake sites were designed to look as if they belonged to the U.S. Senate.

Microsoft didn't offer any further description of the fake sites, although it has previously outlined in court filings how this hacking group operated a network of fake sites designed to trick victims into installing malicious software.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that Microsoft's report reflects a "witch hunt" in the U.S. The ministry said Tuesday that Microsoft's statement lacked any proof of Russian involvement because "there can't be any."

The revelation of new hacking efforts arrives just weeks after a similar Microsoft discovery led Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat who is running for re-election, to reveal that Russian hackers tried unsuccessfully to infiltrate her Senate computer network.

The hacking mirrors similar Russian attacks ahead of the 2016 election, which U.S. intelligence officials have said were focused on helping to elect Republican Donald Trump to the presidency by hurting his Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton.

"If you're involved in politics in America at a high level especially if you have views Vladimir Putin doesn't like you should expect to be the target of a campaign to access your e-mails, get into your systems, divulge information or even falsify information against him," Florida Senator Marco Rubio said.

This time, more than helping one political party over another, "this activity is most fundamentally focused on disrupting democracy," Brad Smith, Microsoft's president and chief legal officer, said in an interview this week.

The FBI said Tuesday it's aware of Microsoft's actions to disrupt the sites but the agency wouldn't provide details about whether it's working with the company to combat the hacking group.

Microsoft's court filing last week said the hackers "registered or used" the fake domains at some point after April 20.

Smith said there is no sign the hackers were successful in persuading anyone to click on the fake websites, which could have exposed a target victim to computer infiltration, hidden surveillance and data theft. Both conservative think tanks said they have tried to be vigilant about "spear-phishing" email attacks because their global pro-democracy work has frequently drawn the ire of authoritarian governments.

The Hudson Institute, which promotes American global leadership on multiple fronts, doesn't always see eye-to-eye with President Donald Trump, particularly with respect to Russia. In April, the institute published a report entitled "Countering Russian Kleptocracy" that laid out a blueprint for punishing Russian corruption and discouraging it through sanctions, including on Russia's sovereign debt.

The International Republican Institute, the GOP counterpart to the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, trains foreign political operatives and parties on how to run elections and govern. Its members help political parties organize campaigns and observe election processes with the aim of fixing flaws and improving public confidence in elections.

It is led by a board that includes six Republican senators, and one prominent Russia critic and Senate hopeful, Mitt Romney, who is running for a Utah seat this fall.

The group's president, Daniel Twining, said in a statement that the apparent hacking is "consistent with the campaign of meddling that the Kremlin has waged against organizations that support democracy and human rights."

Microsoft calls the hacking group Strontium; others call it Fancy Bear or APT28. An indictment from U.S. special counsel Robert Mueller has tied it to Russian's main intelligence agency, known as the GRU, and to the 2016 email hacking of both the Democratic National Committee and the Clinton campaign.

Microsoft has waged a legal battle with Strontium since suing it in a Virginia federal court in summer 2016. The company obtained court approval last year allowing it to seize certain fake domains created by the group. It has so far used the courts to shut down 84 fake websites created by the group, including the most recent six announced Tuesday.

Microsoft has argued in court that by setting up fake but realistic-looking domains, the hackers were misusing Microsoft trademarks and services to hack into targeted computer networks, install malware and steal sensitive emails and other data.

Smith also announced Tuesday that the company is offering free cyber security protection to all U.S. political candidates, campaigns and other political organizations, at least so long as they're already using Microsoft's Office 365 productivity software. Facebook and Google have also promoted similar tools to combat campaign interference.

Mountain View, California - 20 October 2014

1. Wide view of Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus

2. Close view of Microsoft sign

Washington, DC - 21 August 2018

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Lindsey Graham (R) South Carolina:

"For the record I would like to put in the Microsoft article about the Microsoft operation and it basically says that Microsoft, to their great credit, found out that the Russians were up to it again and the target this time was the International Republican Institute which Senator McCain is the chairman that has been very vocal against Russia's interference in democracies particularly on the Hudson Institute and the United States Senate. To Republicans, if you think the Russians just don't have you in mind, you're making a great mistake. They're trying to undermine the democratic process. Now that we're in charge, we're a natural target."

Mountain View, California - October 20, 2014

4. Various, Microsoft's Silicon Valley campus

Washington, DC - 21 August 2018

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Marco Rubio (R) Florida:

"If you're involved in politics in America at a high level especially if you have views Vladimir Putin doesn't like you should expect to be the target of a campaign to access your e-mails, get into your systems, divulge information or even falsify information against him. It's a very low cost way for him to discredit his opponents but more importantly to sow internal strife in the United States which he views as something that weakens us and and undermines our willingness and our resolve."

Internet - 21 August 2018

6. STILLS Onscreen views of conservative websites that were hacked

Washington, DC -21 August 2018

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Jeff Flake (R) Arizona:

"You know I think you're going to find other avenues as well they've been trying to influence. So they're the bad guys and they're trying to influence our elections. They're trying to, on every level, I think that they felt that they had some success last time and so they'll step it up."

Internet - 21 August 2018

8. STILL, screen grab of U.S. Senate website

Washington, DC - 21 August 2018

9. SOUNDBITE (English) Sen. Bob Menendez (D) New Jersey:

"Concern is that they are also trying to hack the Senate as well as conservative think tanks and it just shows if there's no limit to what the Russian Federation under Putin will do to undermine American democracy so we should be doing everything we can. I'm looking forward to the briefing that we will have tomorrow by the administration to understand what it is in fact they're doing but it doesn't seem to me that we have deterred Russian aggression."

Moscow, Russia - 8 August 2018

10. Various of Kremlin