The House Oversight Committee held a classified briefing on election security and foreign influence on Thursday, with less than two months until the midterm elections.
“As we near midterm elections, we must take every step possible to safeguard our electoral process and ensure our fellow citizens have confidence in the security of elections,” said committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., in a statement.
According to Gowdy’s office, the Department of Homeland Security sent two top election officials, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence sent to officials that deal with Russia and Eurasia.
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The national intelligence officer for cyber issues of the ODNI was part of the briefing, as was the FBI’s Deputy Assistant Director Joe Bonavolonta and the Justice Department’s Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the National Security Division Adam Hickey.
The announcement comes after President Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order that he says will punish foreign countries with sanctions should they interfere in U.S. elections — even though he has downplayed the issue.
“This is intended to be a very broad effort to prevent foreign manipulation of the political process,” national security adviser John Bolton told reporters on a conference call.
The executive order allows sanctions without congressional action against foreign nations, organizations, and individuals seeking to influence elections.
