Blumenthal Statement on the Senate Intelligence Committee Report on Russian Election Meddling

[HARTFORD, CT] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement on the final report released by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Russian efforts to support the candidacy of Donald Trump during the 2016 election:

“This damning report lays out in stark detail extensive contacts between the Trump campaign and Russian government operatives who were working toward a shared goal in 2016: electing Donald Trump. Building on the Mueller Report’s findings, the bipartisan Senate Intelligence Committee’s investigation revealed the astonishing openness of the Trump campaign to accept help from one of our nation’s chief adversaries, Russia.”

“The Trump campaign is clearly comfortable allowing Vladimir Putin to help choose the next President of the United States, but the American people should not be. This report is more than an investigation of past actions – it’s a clarion warning call for the upcoming election. Just like Trump campaign members worked closely with Russian intelligence officer Konstantin Kilimnik in 2016, the President’s allies are now embracing Russia-linked operative Andriy Derkach. We know what the Russians have done in the past and we know what they are doing now. There is simply no excuse for inaction.”

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