Letter I got from Senator M. Cantwell on Trump and his Russian chumskies
Thank you for writing to me regarding Russia’s influence over the 2016 elections. I appreciate hearing from you on this important issue.
On January 6, 2017, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) released a declassified report on Russian activities related to the 2016 U.S. Presidential election. It found that “Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. Presidential election. Russia’s goals were to undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrate Secretary [Hillary] Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency.” The report also concluded that the Russians are taking similar action against U.S. allies and their election processes.
Several Congressional committees have ongoing investigations into Russian interference with the U.S. and foreign elections. Prior to leaving office, President Obama also imposed sanctions on nine individuals and entities, including Russia's two leading intelligence agencies, for malicious election-related activities. A number of additional Russian individuals and entities were already subject to U.S. sanctions for terrorism, transnational crime, and weapons proliferation. Since 2014, the United States has also imposed sanctions on more than 520 individuals and entities in response to Russia's invasion and annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and support of separatists in Eastern Ukraine.
I am very concerned about reports of Russian involvement in the 2016 elections and supported the President’s imposition of sanctions. I also support the United States and European Union maintaining separate sanctions on Russia until the conflict in Eastern Ukraine ends. I will continue to monitor this situation.
Thank you again for contacting me to share your thoughts on this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me in the future if I can be of further assistance.
Sincerely,
Maria Cantwell
United States Senator
= new reply since forum marked as read
I kind of give her a pass on that.
