Would lawmakers accept opposition research from foreign sources? We asked all of them

The Washington Examiner reached out to every senator, member of Congress, and 2020 Democratic candidate to ask if they would accept or had accepted dirt on their opposition from a foreign country and if they would alert the FBI to such an offer.

Beginning Thursday morning, we sent their offices or campaigns three questions that required “yes” or “no” answers and gave them until Friday afternoon to respond. We also recorded all answers that came in past our deadline.

A vast majority of lawmakers, 376 of 533, did not get back to us. The offices of two Democratic congresswomen asked for more time, but never got back to us with responses. Two seats in Congress are vacant.

By the numbers:

• We heard back directly from 16 of the 24 Democratic 2020 candidates. They said they would not accept opposition research from a foreign country and would tell the FBI if a foreign country made the offer.

Joe Biden’s campaign did not respond to the request. Biden, widely seen as the front-runner, holds a considerable lead in the polls. However, a day after the questions were sent, Biden’s campaign released a video in which the former vice president said Trump was “dead wrong” to admit he would accept damaging information on his opponents.

“I won’t be part of any attempt to undermine our democracy or public confidence in our institutions,” Biden said.

Republican Bill Weld, who is challenging Trump for the GOP nomination, also said he would not accept damaging information and he would alert the FBI to such an offer.

• Of 45 Democratic senators, only 24 responded to our request, including the six Democratic senators running for president, to say they would not accept dirt from a foreign country and would hand it over to authorities.

• The two independent senators, including Bernie Sanders’ 2020 campaign, said they would do the same.

• Of the 53 Republican senators, only 13 responded directly to our request. Their answers echoed those of their Democratic colleagues.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s office did not respond.

• Of 235 Democrats in the House, only 97 responded directly to our request, saying they would not take damaging information from a foreign country and would contact the FBI. That number includes 2020 presidential candidates Eric Swalwell, Seth Moulton, and Tim Ryan. Neither Rep. Tulsi Gabbard’s office nor her campaign responded directly to our requests.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office did not return our email. She has said publicly that Democrats plan to propose legislation strengthening campaigns’ “duty to report” foreign offers of assistance.

• Of 198 Republicans in the House, only 21 of their offices wrote back to us saying they would not accept foreign dirt and would report the outreach to the authorities. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., tweeted his response, though he did not clarify whether he would tell the authorities.