Letter from Senator Patty Murray re: Russian intereference in US elections

[Generic Other]

Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts on reports of Russian involvement during the 2016 election and the Trump Administration’s relationship with Russian officials. I appreciate hearing your views on this important topic.

In early December 2016, 17 agencies of the U.S. intelligence community concluded that Russia intervened in the 2016 presidential election in support of Donald Trump. These reports should disturb and outrage every American who believes that the integrity of our elections is fundamental to the strength of our democracy. One of the first pieces of legislation I cosponsored in the new Congress was S. 27, which would establish an independent commission to investigate Russian cyber operations and other attempts to interfere with the 2016 election.

However, in recent weeks, new concerns and questions have emerged beyond just what happened leading up to the election and like so many Americans, I am deeply troubled by the events that led to Michael Flynn’s abrupt resignation as National Security Advisor just 24 days into the new Administration. The National Security Advisor is supposed to put the safety of American citizens and our allies first, and I am troubled that for months, Mr. Flynn had direct access to the president and the power to influence some of the most critical decisions facing our country.

While I am glad Mr. Flynn is now out of the White House and no longer influencing our national security, this development only prompts more questions, and the American people deserve answers. I join my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in calling for an immediate and independent investigation into President Trump and his staff’s communication with Russia and Vladimir Putin both during the campaign and after the election, as well as Russian interference in our elections.

President Trump has remained far too dismissive of Russia’s hostile behavior and Americans deserve to know why. No American should stand for something like this to be swept under the rug or allow President Trump to obstruct an investigation. We cannot afford a White House that accommodates Vladimir Putin and his meddling in foreign elections, aggression in Ukraine, and record of human rights abuses at home and abroad. Democrats and Republicans may disagree on many policy issues, but when it comes to our national security or the integrity of our elections, everyone should put their country before party. This is too important, and I will relentlessly pursue this with my colleagues until we get the answers Americans deserve.

Thank you again for writing to me regarding this critically important issue. If you would like to know more about my work in the Senate, please feel free to sign up for my weekly updates at http://murray.senate.gov/updates. Again, thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.
Sincerely,
Patty Murray
United States Senator

[SunSeeker]

1. Patty Murray is great.

[littlemissmartypants]

2. ♡ eom

[zentrum]

3. It's not just that

...Flynn could influence policy on behalf of foreign powers.

It's that Flynn could get highly classified information that could help foreign powers. He was or could have been privy to everything---including names of foreign double agents of the countries that were paying him.

[KT2000]

4. Shout it from the rooftops!