SCIUTTO: Welcome back to THE LEAD. And topping our world lead, U.S. intelligence officials increasingly concerned about what's believed to be a covert Russian hacking operation, potentially trying to manipulate the U.S. presidential election. In China this morning, President Obama weighed in on the escalating cyber campaign.</s>BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What we cannot do is have a situation in which suddenly this becomes the Wild Wild West.</s>SCIUTTO (voice-over): President Obama warning Russia today about Moscow's expanding cyber attacks on the U.S. This as U.S. intelligence agencies are increasingly focused, U.S. officials tell CNN, on Russian influence on the upcoming presidential election. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper recently told CNN he is concerned the Kremlin may be seeking to undermine confidence in the vote. (on camera): Is it your vote that Russia has the intention of, if not influencing this election, undermining confidence in the U.S. political process?</s>JAMES CLAPPER, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE: They see a U.S. conspiracy behind every bush. They believe that we are trying to influence political developments in Russia, their natural response is to retaliate.</s>SCIUTTO: Multiple agencies are now assessing the scope of the Russian intrusion, which includes hacking into voting data and systems. Russia's intention is not clear, maybe less to help one candidate over another than to sow doubt in the overall process and final results.</s>CLAPPER: Was this just to stir up trouble or was this ultimately to try to influence an election? And, of course, this is serious, serious proposition.</s>SCIUTTO: So serious that today, President Obama raised the issue as he and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on the side lines of the G20 summit in China.</s>OBAMA: We've had problems with cyber intrusions from Russia in the past.
Russia Planning to Interfere in U.S. Elections?; U.S. Investigating Russian Hacking Operation.