Bipartisan Group Of Senators Calls For Probe Into Reports Of Russian Hacking

UNITED STATES - MAY 11: From left, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) arrive in the Capitol for votes on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images)
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As Donald Trump continued to dismiss reports that the CIA has concluded that Russian hackers interfered in the 2016 United States election, a bipartisan group of senators on Sunday called for a Congress to look into the reports.

“For years, foreign adversaries have directed cyberattacks at America’s physical, economic, and military infrastructure, while stealing our intellectual property. Now our democratic institutions have been targeted. Recent reports of Russian interference in our election should alarm every American,” Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) said in a statement from the Armed Services Committee.

“Congress’s national security committees have worked diligently to address the complex challenge of cybersecurity, but recent events show that more must be done. While protecting classified material, we have an obligation to inform the public about recent cyberattacks that have cut to the heart of our free society. Democrats and Republicans must work together, and across the jurisdictional lines of the Congress, to examine these recent incidents thoroughly and devise comprehensive solutions to deter and defend against further cyberattacks,” they continued. “This cannot become a partisan issue. The stakes are too high for our country. We are committed to working in this bipartisan manner, and we will seek to unify our colleagues around the goal of investigating and stopping the grave threats that cyberattacks conducted by foreign governments pose to our national security.”

During a Sunday morning interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” McCain said that he would like to create a select committee to investigate Russian hacking. But he said that at the very least, the Senate Armed Services committee should launch a probe.

Meanwhile, Trump continued to dismiss reports that the CIA concluded that Russians tried to interfere in the 2016 election.

“I think it’s ridiculous,” Trump said on “Fox News Sunday.” “I don’t believe it.”

He added that Democrats may be pushing the narrative that Russia tried to help Trump, and he noted that officials at the FBI and CIA disagree on Russia’s motives. As the Washington Post reported, officials at the CIA believe that Russia intended to help Trump defeat Hillary Clinton, but FBI officials are less sure of Russia’s motives.

“They don’t know, and I don’t know,” Trump said.

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