Thompson, Engel, Conyers: Russia Must Not Interfere with U.S. Election

(WASHINGTON) - Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs; Representative John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Ranking Member of the House Committee on the Judiciary; and Representative Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, today underscored the potential threat of Russia’s interference in an American election, and urged the Administration to take steps to prevent Russia’s manipulation of the American political process.  In light of reports of Russia’s responsibility for the cyber-attack on the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the launch of a federal investigation, the lawmakers urged national-security agency heads to collaborate in determining the full extent of Russia’s involvement and intentions.

“Nearly a half century ago, a break-in at the DNC headquarters eventually led to the end of a Presidency.  For a foreign government to engage in the same sort of behavior cannot be tolerated. Russia doesn’t get to put its thumb on the scale in our elections.  In the days ahead, we need to send a clear message to Russia’s leaders and all who mean us harm: we will not allow the Kremlin or any other foreign power to dictate the terms of political debate in this country,” wrote Reps. Engel, Conyers, and Thompson.

A full text of the letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation Director James Comey, Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper follows and can be found here.

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