Common Cause Joins Senator McCain in Calling for Select Committee to Investigate Russian Interference in 2016 Election

Statement of Karen Hobert Flynn, Common Cause President

The increasing evidence of Russian interference in the 2016 election demands an exhaustive investigation and expedited bi-partisan hearings. The troubling findings of the U.S. intelligence community are only compounded by the unprecedented lack of transparency concerning business connections between President-elect Donald Trump and Russian interests.

Other than a military attack, an attempt to subvert our election is perhaps the most serious affront possible to our nation and our values. Americans have a right to know the truth, unfiltered by partisans and ideologues, to begin the process of restoring faith in the integrity of our elections. The goal should be to get as much information as possible on the public record before confirmation hearings for the new administration’s appointees. Quick action is particularly important because of the many ways the president-elect, his family, and many of his cabinet and high-ranking White House staff and transition team have extensive ties to Russia or business interests there. It’s also vital to the important work of restoring Americans’ faith in the integrity of our elections and ensuring that whatever attack was perpetrated this year cannot be repeated.

Throughout our 46-year history, Common Cause has worked to hold government officials to the highest ethical standards and to ensure that every eligible American can vote and every vote is counted as cast. In that spirit, we support Sen. John McCain’s call for a Select Committee and we urge that Congress return to session immediately and form a bipartisan select committee with an equal number of Republicans and Democrats. We urge coordination between the congressional inquiry and the full investigation ordered by President Obama so that to the most complete record possible can be assembled, including any declassification of documents that can be accomplished without jeopardizing any intelligence assets. This high-level, bi-partisan approach will assure voters that the inquiry is not about politics, but about the integrity of our elections and our national security.

Prior to the election, Common Cause joined allies in raising concerns about the vulnerability of our system and called on the Department of Homeland Security to designate our election systems as critical infrastructure. We urge President Obama to act on this now.