Letter to Sens. Bob Corker and Ben Cardin, Chairman and Ranking Member, Seante Foreign Relations Committee - Calling a Special Hearing on Russian Cyber Attacks to Interfere in the Election Process

Letter

Chairman Corker and Ranking Member Cardin,

As Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Europe, I write to respectfully urge you to schedule a hearing as soon as possible to consider the foreign policy implications of Russia's reported interference in our upcoming national elections.

As you know, the Committee last held a hearing on U.S. policy towards Russia on June 7. In the months since, it has been widely reported that Russia hacked the Democratic National Committee and quite possibly also leaked illicitly obtained emails to third party groups. Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has urged states to improve the security of their voting systems after discovering that those in at least two states have been compromised by suspected Russian hackers. At this moment, the U.S. Intelligence Community is reportedly investigating broader Russian covert operations in our country designed to undermine public confidence in our electoral processes. These developments raise the sobering possibility that Russia is employing the tactics it has used to influence elections in places like Ukraine and Georgia, this time in the United States.

Earlier this week, as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I had the opportunity to attend a hearing on cybersecurity where the issue of Russian hacking was discussed. Given the seriousness of this issue and the jurisdictional relevance to the Foreign Relations Committee, I believe a full committee hearing on this issue, perhaps supplemented by a classified briefing, would be beneficial both to members of the committee and the constituents they represent.

I greatly appreciate your timely attention to this serious issue.

Sincerely,

Jeanne Shaheen

United States Senator

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