Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise to express my deep concern with a pattern of foreign interference in U.S. elections and the need to confront Russian aggression and interference in all of its malicious forms.

Over the past several months, we have seen a clear pattern of cyberattacks and leaks designed to target our electoral institutions, including the DNC, DCCC, and our State election agencies, and to discredit the example of our democracy around the world. Evidence collected by private security firms indicates that these attacks are part of a Russian intelligence operation, a campaign of propaganda and disinformation known as active measures.

Sowing distrust and chaos in U.S. elections by a foreign adversary should concern Americans of all parties. Along with Senator Feinstein, I have written to the President to urge that he make a public attribution of these attacks. If a hostile foreign power is attempting to disrupt or influence our elections, the American people have a right to know it. I also urge the GOP to refrain from using hacked documents, which can be easily doctored or seeded with false information. An attack on our election system is an attack on our democracy, and all Americans must stand against it.

It is time we acknowledge the hard truth that Russia poses a significant threat not only to the United States, but to freedom-loving people all over the world. It has invaded its neighbors and attempted to remake the map of Europe through the use of force. It has interfered in the elections of its neighbors. Now it is attempting to interfere in our own elections.

The GOP nominee sees nothing wrong with Russian behavior. He admires Putin, belittles NATO, expresses recognition for the illegal annexation of Crimea, and also expresses a positive receptivity to the idea of repealing sanctions on Russia for its illegal annexation of part of the land of its neighbor. He invites Russia to illegally hack his opponent.

This is dangerous. We are now engaged in a high stakes battle of ideas around the world. The United States, as always, is the beacon of democracy; and Russia, the champion of a creeping authoritarianism that is spreading its destructive influences in the Caucasus, Eastern Europe, and the West.

It is now an iron curtain descending across the continent by the slow smothering of freedoms the world holds dear: the right to choose one's own representatives, the right to speak as we choose, the right to associate with like mind and intent, and what has been described as the most precious right of all, the right to simply be left alone.

All of these universal human rights are under assault by a newly aggressive and belligerent Kremlin. We need a Commander in Chief who will resist this assault, not endorse; who will affront Russian aggression, not ratify it; who has the experience, judgment, and fitness to meet this and other grave challenges facing the United States of America.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source