Intelligence fears that the Russian photographer could wiretap the Oval Office

Photo: flickr.com/MID Russia

The presence of a photographer from the Russian state news agency TASS in the Oval Office during President Donald Trump's meeting with Russian diplomats has drawn criticism from former US intelligence officials, writes "Voice of America«.

Newspaper sources The Washington Post They expressed concern that listening devices hidden in cameras or other electronics could get into the Oval Office. The reason for the concern of former intelligence officers was the appearance on the Internet of photographs of Trump's meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov posted by TASS.

Photo: flickr.com/MID Russia

One of those who commented on the situation, was a former deputy director of the CIA, David Cowan, the newspaper said. Responding to a question asked on the Internet about whether it was reasonable to allow a photographer to enter the Oval Office, Cowan tweeted: “It was unreasonable.” In a telephone conversation, he did not go into details.

The White House did not attach much importance to the presence of the photographer, explaining that he and his equipment had been checked before he entered the White House, the newspaper notes.

A Russian correspondent “passed the same test as the American media when passing through the main entrance to the briefing room” of the White House, a senior administration official said.

However, other former intelligence officials also described the photographer’s access as a potential breach of security, noting that standard checks of visitors to the White House are not always able to detect complex spyware, the publication said.

A spokesman for the administration also said that the White House was misled about the role of the Russian photographer, notes The Washington Post. Russian representatives presented him as the official photographer Lavrov, not specifying that he also works for TASS.

“The Russian side did not inform us that their official photographer performs a dual function and will transfer the photos to the state news agency,” the administration official said.

As a result, the newspaper notes, the White House was surprised when they saw on the Internet photos not only of Trump and Lavrov, but also of the smiling US President, who shakes hands with the Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak.

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