All House Democrats Join Effort to Create Independent Commission to Investigate Foreign Interference in U.S. Election

Jan 10, 2017
Press Release

All House Democrats Join Effort to Create Independent Commission  to Investigate Foreign Interference in U.S. Elections

 

WASHINGTON — Today, Reps. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), and Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Ranking Members of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and the  CIA Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, announced that all sworn-in House of Representative Democrats sponsored their legislation to establish an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate foreign interference in the 2016 election.

“I’m pleased that all of my House Democratic colleagues have joined this legislation to create a bipartisan and  independent Commission to try to prevent any foreign power from interfering in our elections again in the future,” Cummings said. “These Russian attacks on our electoral process were attacks on our Constitution, our people, and our nation, and our intelligence agencies  have made it clear that if we do not respond now, the Russians will attack us again.  I sincerely hope that Republicans, including the President-Elect—who for the first time ever will swear his own oath to protect and defend our Constitution—will join us in supporting this legislation.”

“The unanimity of our caucus reflects the broad consensus that only an independent, bipartisan commission can truly get the job done,” Swalwell said. “I hope our Republican colleagues will recognize this too. This isn’t about re-litigating the 2016 election; it’s about ensuring all our future elections are free of the taint of foreign meddling.”

Their bill would create a 12-member, bipartisan, independent commission empowered to interview witnesses, obtain documents, issue subpoenas, and receive public testimony to examine attempts by the Russian government or others to use electronic means to influence, interfere with, or undermine trust in last year’s U.S. elections. The commission would also make recommendations to Congress and the President within 18 months of enactment to prevent foreign interference in future elections.

 

115th Congress