House and Senate Democrats have introduced legislation to create an independent commission to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election, and recommend ways to prevent further interference.
Reps. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., and Elijah Cummings, D-Md., on Monday reintroduced the Protecting Our Democracy Act, which would create an independent, bicameral, bipartisan commission to study the intelligence community’s determination that Russia was behind the hacks into the emails of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign manager John Podesta.
Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., introduced companion legislation last week. Every House Democrat and nine Democratic senators have signed onto the bills, but so far no Republicans have, although some support congressional examinations.
On Sunday Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Republicans who are happy that the Kremlin hacked Democratic emails are unpatriotic and called for additional sanctions against Moscow.
“To those who are gleeful about it: You’re a political hack. You’re not a Republican. You’re not a patriot,” he said on NBC.
On Monday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said she hopes Republicans join the call because the U.S. should lead the way in preventing further Russian meddling in any nation’s elections and internal functioning.
“It is a repeated attempt; and really a modus operandi around the world to influence elections,” she said, noting that allies France and Germany have upcoming elections.
“There is no question that Russia attacked us,” Cardin said. He cited the unclassified report the intelligence community made public Friday that said Russian President Vladimir Putin himself directed the cyberattacks and the dissemination of information to tank former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s candidacy.
“We must take the necessary steps to protect the national security of our country,” he said, adding that the incoming Trump administration could be Moscow’s next target.
“They are screaming at us, trying to tell us,” what happened to and to fix the problem, Cummings said about the heads of the CIA, FBI, National Security Administration and Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
“There is plenty of room for Republicans” to sign onto the bills, Swalwell said.
Last week, former Rep. Lee Hamilton D-Ind., who co-chaired the 9/11 Commission, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and other national security experts signed a statement supporting a 9/11-style panel to look into the Russian matter.
