Heinrich Questions Intelligence Officials On Russian Hacking Of U.S. Election
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) questioned senior intelligence officials about cybersecurity threats, including Russia's hacking of the U.S. presidential election. The committee received testimony from Director Of National Intelligence James R. Clapper, Jr.; Under Secretary Of Defense For Intelligence Marcel J. Lettre; and Admiral Michael S. Rogers, Commander, United States Cyber Command / Director, National Security Agency / Chief, Central Security Services.
"The Russian hacking in the 2016 election--in this case on behalf of an unprecedentedly pro-Russian candidate--strikes at the core of our Democracy and cannot be brushed under the carpet. We know that Russia selectively and deliberately released damaging information in hopes of furthering its strategic objectives. I believe this will happen again, unless there is a price to be paid,” said Senator Heinrich. “I welcomed the sanctions against Russia announced by President Obama and was encouraged that the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will release declassified technical information on Russian civilian and military intelligence service cyber activity. There also needs to be an independent, bipartisan commission designed solely to investigate what happened. If we do not take this seriously, our fundamental Democratic institutions are at risk."
Senator Heinrich, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, sent a letter to President Obama urging him to declassify information relating to the Russian government and the U.S. election. On December 29, 2016, the President announced that the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation would release declassified technical information on Russian civilian and military intelligence service cyber activity.
