WASHINGTON - Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered 'an influence campaign' in 2016 aimed at the US presidential election with the goal of undermining the democratic process and denigrating Democratic rival Hillary Clinton, a new, declassified intelligence report said on Friday. 'We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump,' the report said. 'We also assess Putin and the Russian Government aspired to help President-elect Trump's election chances when possible by discrediting Secretary Clinton and publicly contrasting her unfavorably to him,' it said.
