FBI Director James Comey argued privately that it was too close to Election Day for the United States government to name Russia as meddling in the U.S. election and ultimately ensured that the FBI's name was not on the document that the U.S. government put out, a former bureau official tells CNBC.Department of Homeland Security and The Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued the statement on Oct. 7, saying: "The U.S. intelligence community is confident that the Russian Government directed the recent compromises of emails from U.S. persons and institutions, including from U.S. political organizations.

The hackers believed responsible for breaking into computers at the Democratic National Committee have exploited previously undisclosed flaws in Microsoft Corp.’s Windows operating system and Adobe Systems Inc.’s Flash software, Microsoft said Tuesday. the hackers, whom the company has dubbed Strontium, used “phishing” email messages leveraging vulnerabilities in Windows and Adobe Flash to target a specific set of customers. Strontium is the same group that others have identified as Fancy Bear and accused of breaking into the DNC’s systems. U.S. government officials have blamed Russia for hacks of the DNC and other prominent Washington players this year. #2305