Swalwell Issues Statement on Russian Hacking Reports and President-Elect Trump

WASHINGTON, DC – Rep. Eric Swalwell (CA-15), Ranking Member of the CIA Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, issued the following statement regarding the Russian hacking report and President-elect Donald Trump:

“The Public Report on Russian hacking makes it clear that Russia hacked our democracy; it was ordered by Russia's dictator, Vladimir Putin; and Russia sought to help its preferred candidate, Donald Trump. These findings justify all of us – including our law enforcement community – to look at whether the attacking country had any contact with the candidate or campaign who benefited. The President-elect has spoken a number of times, including after being presented with this evidence, in flattering ways about Russia and its dictator. Considering the evidence of Russia hacking our democracy to his benefit, the President-elect would do a service to his presidency and our country by releasing his personal and business income taxes, as well as information on any global financial holdings."

“Now more than ever, we must create an independent, bipartisan commission to fully investigate all Russian involvement in the hacking of our democracy. H.R. 356, the Protecting Our Democracy Act – which I and Rep. Elijah Cummings have just reintroduced with the support of all Democratic Members of Congress – would achieve this. If we are to restore confidence in our democratic institutions, we need an external panel of trusted experts to rise above partisan rancor and make a full, transparent report to the American people, along with recommendations on how to ensure this never happens again.”