Congress Democrats urge Obama to provide briefings on possible Russian interference during presidential election

A coalition of Democratic Congress members recently urged the Obama Administration via letter to provide them with briefings on potential Russian interference during the recent U.S. presidential election.

In the wake of reports speculating that Russia may have interfered in the election, America’s public trust in democratic institutions had been significantly weakened. As a request for evaluation and understanding, the group’s letter called attention to the hacking of various American organizations, the publication of private emails sent to campaign officials as well as disclosures by Wikileaks and fabricated news stories that had been circulated.

“By eroding Americans’ and foreigners’ trust in U.S. institutions, Russia both weakens our country and sows global instability and uncertainty,” the letter said. “To evaluate Congress’s response appropriately, we would like all members  to have a comprehensive understanding of what the U.S. Intelligence Community knows regarding Russia’s involvement in these actions and attempts to interfere in our election.”

Should evidence be found that Russian actors did interfere in the elections process, the Congress members requested that the United States conduct countermeasures as a means of maintaining peace and prosperity through effective United States leadership.

The signing group includes U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Democratic Whip; John Conyers (D-MI), ranking Judiciary Committee member; Eliot Engel (D-NY), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), ranking member of the House Homeland Security Committee; Elijah Cummings (D-MD), ranking member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee; Adam Smith (D-WA), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee; and Adam Schiff (D-CA), ranking member of the House Committee on Intelligence.