Senate to probe Russian interference in 2016 US election

And there is a small chance the probe could be non-partisan:

U.S. scrutiny of Russian meddling in the 2016 election gained momentum this week when the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism announced it would launch its own investigation of alleged election hacking.

The move follows the Senate Intelligence Committee’s announcement last month that it would investigate alleged election hacking by Russian intelligence agencies.

Senate Judiciary Subcommittee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Ranking Member Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) said in a joint statement Thursday that the investigation would focus on Russian efforts to influence elections “both here at home and abroad.”

Here is the full text of the statement:

U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-Rhode Island), the Chairman and Ranking Members of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, announced they will investigate Russian efforts to influence democratic elections, both in the United States and abroad.

They made the following statement:

“We look forward to investigating Russia’s efforts to influence democratic elections, both here at home and abroad.

“Our goal is simple – to the fullest extent possible we want to shine a light on Russian activities to undermine democracy. While some of our efforts will have to be held behind closed doors due to security concerns, we also hope to have an open discussion before the American people about Russia’s strategies to undermine democracy.

“Our efforts will be guided by the belief that we have an obligation to follow the facts wherever they may lead.”

The subcommittee plans to fulfill the following goals:

• Gain a full understanding of the American intelligence community’s assessment that Russia did take an active interest and play a role in the recent American elections.
• Learn more about the methods Russia has used to target democratic nations and elections.
• Explore possible avenues to help prevent and deter future foreign influences from impacting American elections and institutions.
• Assure that Congress provides the FBI the tools it needs to keep its investigative work protected from political influence.

By: dave-dr-gonzo

David Hirsch, a.k.a. Dave "Doctor" Gonzo*, is a renegade record producer, video producer, writer, reformed corporate shill, and still-registered lobbyist for non-one-percenter performing artists and musicians. He lives in a heavily fortified compound in one of Manhattan's less trendy neighborhoods.

* Hirsch is the third person to use the pseudonym, a not-so-veiled tribute to journalist and author Hunter S. Thompson, with the permission of his predecessors Gene Gaudette of American Politics Journal (currently webmaster and chief bottlewasher at Liberaland) and Stephen Meese at Smashmouth Politics.