Cummings Responds to Report on Russian Intervention in U.S. Election

Jan 6, 2017
Press Release

Cummings Responds to Report on Russian Intervention in U.S. Election

 

Washington, D.C. (Jan. 6, 2017) – Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement in response to a report released by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Russian intervention in the U.S. election:

“These clear findings of the CIA, NSA, and FBI should chill every American to the core – not only for what has happened, but for the future of our democratic institutions if we do not take strong actions now to prevent this from happening again.  It is critical that Congressional Republicans put politics aside and join our efforts to create an independent, bipartisan commission to offer serious and substantial recommendations to prevent this kind of foreign interference in our elections.  President-elect Donald Trump has said he will make it a priority to protect the American people from cyber vulnerabilities, and I agree with him. We cannot afford to sweep these events under the rug, and I invite him to work with us to prevent foreign interference in our democratic process.”

Earlier today, Cummings and Rep. Eric Swalwell, the Ranking Member of the CIA Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, reintroduced their Protecting Our Democracy Act to establish an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate foreign interference in the 2016 election.

Since introducing their bill last month, they have obtained the support of more than 180 Members of the House of Representatives, including Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, and all members of House Democratic leadership; the Ranking Members of all House Committees; and all Democratic members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Their bill would create a 12-member, bipartisan, independent commission empowered to interview witnesses, obtain documents, issue subpoenas, and receive public testimony to examine attempts by the Russian government or others to use electronic means to influence, interfere with, or undermine trust in last year’s U.S. elections. The commission would also make recommendations to Congress and the President within 18 months of enactment to prevent foreign interference in future elections.

 

Issues: 
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115th Congress