Democratic presidential hopeful Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders speaks during the ninth Democratic primary debate of the 2020 presidential campaign season co-hosted by NBC News, MSNBC, Noticias Telemundo and The Nevada Independent at the Paris Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 19, 2020. Mark Ralston | AFP | Getty Images

U.S. officials told Sen. Bernie Sanders, a leading Democratic presidential candidate, that Russia is attempting to boost his campaign as part of its efforts to meddle in the 2020 election, according to a new report. The Washington Post, citing people familiar with the matter, reported Friday that President Donald Trump and U.S. lawmakers have also been informed about the Kremlin's assistance to Sanders. Federal prosecutors had previously uncovered that Russia used social media to try and help Sanders in the 2016 election contest against eventual Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, the Post reported.

U.S. intelligence services have concluded that Russia interfered in that contest in order to sow division and ultimately help elect Trump. "I don't care, frankly, who [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants to be president," Sanders said in a statement to CNBC. "My message to Putin is clear: Stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do." Trump has long been reluctant to acknowledge the conclusion of his own intelligence services that Russia, through its interference in the 2016 election, showed a preference for his campaign. At a briefing to lawmakers last week, an official with the office of the Director of National Intelligence said that Russia was once again interfering in the 2020 contest to aid Trump's reelection. Those comments reportedly angered the president. Trump, speaking at an campaign rally in Las Vegas on Friday afternoon, discussed the possibility of further Russian interference. "Putin wants to make sure I get elected. So, doesn't he want to see who the Democrat is gonna be? Wouldn't he rather have, let's say, Bernie? Wouldn't he rather have Bernie, who honeymooned in Moscow?" Trump said at the rally.