New Russian Allegations Arise as Activists Deliver Petitions Nationwide Demanding Independent Commission

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  • David Vance

As news breaks about Trump campaign officials embroiled in the FBI Russian investigation, local Common Cause activists began nationwide delivery of petitions to Members of Congress, urging them to support the formation of an independent commission to investigate the Russian government’s attack on the 2016 election. The deliveries of constituent signatures come in the wake of media reports late yesterday revealing that Trump campaign advisor Carter Page was under investigation by the FBI last summer resulting in the granting of a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant by a secret court. In visits to district offices from Florida to Alaska and from Maine to Arizona, activists are emphasizing that the partisan atmosphere in Washington is too charged currently for a full and fair investigation by members of Congress.

“Only an independent commission can restore the trust of the American people that the investigation will get to the bottom of the sophisticated and sustained Russian attack on the 2016 presidential elections and that its findings will be released regardless of where the facts lead,” said Karen Hobert Flynn, Common Cause president. “The House and Senate Intelligence Committees have clearly shown that partisanship can derail even investigations of an attack on the keystone of our democracy – our free and fair elections. Our members at Common Cause have watched that farce unfold and they are determined to make their voices heard by taking their request for an independent commission directly to their elected representatives.”

An independent commission has the best chance of getting to the bottom of the massive effort by the Russian government to influence the outcomes of the 2016 presidential election in favor of Donald Trump. A nonpartisan investigation is the only way that the American people will be able to have any confidence that the next election will be protected against another Russian attack. The investigation must dissect and disseminate what happened in 2016 and present recommendations to ensure that our democracy is never left so vulnerable to attack again.  

The petition deliveries began today at the offices of Sen. John McCain and Sen. Jeff Flake in Phoenix at 11:00 a.m. local time and will continue through the congressional recess.