U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) publicly called last week for the immediate declassification and public release of any intelligence related to Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, stating that Americans cannot wait much longer to get the facts.
“This is a national crisis that must be fully explained to the American people right now,” Wyden said. “When a foreign nation interferes in our election, delays and closed-door investigations are not good enough. We cannot continue to sweep this under the rug or to wait until just before inauguration day before leveling with the public.”
Wyden’s call to action comes in the wake of reports that the Federal Bureau of Investigation agreed with assessments made by the Central Intelligence Agency that Russian interference in the election was likely. The U.S. Intelligence Community last declassified information about the subject in early October.
Wyden said the release is necessary for a variety of reasons including the international benefits of transparency and how it’s important to democracy, the allowance of open congressional hearings on the subject, and that transparency will be key for the public when assessing the incoming administration and who they pick for specific cabinet-level positions.
“American democracy, and its independence from foreign interference, is at stake,” Wyden said. “History will not forgive those who kept the facts from the American people.”
The president has yet to issue a formal response to the request.