Congresswoman Lawrence on Senate Intelligence Committee Finding Affirming Russian Interference in 2016 Presidential Election

Washington, D.C. –Congresswoman Lawrence statement following Senate Intelligence Committee’s  determination that U.S. intelligence community was correct in assessing Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election with the aim of helping then-candidate Donald Trump, which directly contradicts the findings reached last month by House Republicans.

Excerpt from May 16, 2018 joint statement of Senate Intelligence Committee chairman, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), and vice chair, Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.):

We see no reason to dispute the [intelligence community’s] conclusions...Our staff concluded that the...conclusions were accurate and on point. The Russian effort was extensive, sophisticated, and ordered by President Putin himself for the purpose of helping Donald Trump and hurting Hillary Clinton.

“While the House Intelligence Committee concluded no Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, the Senate Intelligence Committee’s contradiction with the House and alignment with the conclusions of the intelligence community is very telling. Our election process is the foundation of our democracy and the findings of the Senate Committee and our intelligence community has revealed that our democratic process was indeed compromised. It is imperative that we seek accountability and protections for the sanctity of our voting process. The voice and the vote of the American people must never be compromised.”

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