Blumenthal Reiterates Call for Senate Select Committee Investigation of Russian Interference in 2016 Elections

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) reiterated his call today for a Senate Select Committee investigation of Russian interference in the U.S. election – joining a growing chorus of bipartisan Congressional leaders, including Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-AZ) and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), in urging action to address the overwhelming evidence of foreign intrusion in the election.

“Russia’s cyberattacks on our election system should be investigated aggressively and comprehensively‎ by a bipartisan Senate Select Committee beginning immediately, as proposed by Senators McCain and Schumer yesterday,” Blumenthal said. “I support also a prompt, powerful response to these attacks suggested by President Obama, based on indisputable intelligence showing Russian interference to influence the outcome of our democratic process. The Committee should also review more broadly cyberattacks by China and North Korea, as well as Russia. My hope is that it will make encompassing recommendations with a detailed strategy for deterring and defending against such attacks. Our nation urgently needs to be better prepared to counter and repel hostile action in this advancing world of cyber conflict.”

Blumenthal has supported bipartisan efforts to defend critical infrastructure against cyber-attacks, and has led efforts to protect online personal information against data theft. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Blumenthal also helped elevate U.S. Cyber Command to a unified combatant command, allowing for a faster and more robust response to cyber threats. Over the last several weeks, Blumenthal has been vocally supportive of a bipartisan investigation into growing evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election. “That investigation of [Russia’s] most recent effort to interfere in our elections is one that really should be done soon, it should have bipartisan support, and it should be sufficiently resources that it can be effective,” Blumenthal said at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee in early December. 

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