Sens. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Chris Coons, D-Del, said they plan to call up a resolution tomorrow backing the nation’s intelligence community and the finding that Russia interfered in the 2016 election.
Flake and Coons said they will “request unanimous passage” of the measure, which would appear to serve as a rebuke of President Trump, who appeared to dispute the findings of Russian interference but has since said he misspoke in his comments.
“This body must reaffirm that we stand with the men and women of the Department of Justice, who have brought these 12 indictments against individuals from the Russian Federation who interfered with our elections,” Flake, who is retiring and is often at odds with Trump, said. “I hope the president will take the word of our intelligence agencies rather than the empty words of a dictator.”
The Senators will seek unanimous consent to pass the resolution, which means it can only be blocked if another Senator objects.
A spokesman for Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., would not indicate whether the measure will get a vote.
Coons, a Democrat known for sometimes working across the aisle, said senators should pass the resolution in response to Trump’s statements regarding Russian interference.
In addition to Trump’s initial denial of meddling in Helsinki, the president appeared to indicate Wednesday that he does not believe Russians are meddling in the 2018 election. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said later he was simply refusing to answer a question about meddling and not denying that it is happening.
Coons and Flake are not convinced.
“After the president’s actions over the past week, it’s important for the Senate to speak in a clear, bipartisan voice to say that we stand with and believe our Department of Justice and our intelligence community and that we will not tolerate future attacks from Russia or anyone else on our democracy,” Coons said.
