'It's not how I wanted to go out': Chris Krebs, the election security official fired by Trump, opens up in new interview and dismisses 'farcical' claims of voter fraud

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'It's not how I wanted to go out': Chris Krebs, the election security official fired by Trump, opens up in new interview and dismisses 'farcical' claims of voter fraud
Christopher Krebs, former director of the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, testifies during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on May 14, 2019.Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call
  • Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, told CBS "the American people should have 100% confidence in their vote."
  • Krebs was fired by President Trump earlier this month for refusing to go along with Trump's unsupported claims of election fraud in the 2020 election.
  • Krebs said he was not "necessarily surprised" by Trump's decision. Still, "It's not how I wanted to go out."
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Chris Krebs was not "necessarily surprised" when President Donald Trump fired him in a tweet. But, in an interview with CBS News' "60 Minutes," the former elections security official said he stands by his assessment that the 2020 election was "the most secure in American history."

Krebs, former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security, was fired on November 17 after repeatedly striking down the president's conspiracy theories surrounding his loss.

In an interview airing in full on Sunday, Krebs described the claims being circulated by Trump and his allies as "farcical."

"The proof is in the ballots," Krebs said. "The recounts are consistent with the initial count and, to me, that's further evidence — that's confirmation — that the systems used in the 2020 election performed as expected, and the American people should have 100% confidence in their vote."

Krebs added that he was not shocked that Trump terminated him, but said "it's not how I wanted to go out."

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"I think the thing that upsets me the most about that is I didn't get a chance to say goodbye to my team," he said.

Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com

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