WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) released the following statement after the CIA determined that Russia interfered with the 2016 presidential election in an effort to sway its outcome:

“I am deeply alarmed by the intelligence community’s findings that Russia interfered in our elections with the intent of helping elect Donald J. Trump as President of the United States. I am equally troubled by President-elect Trump’s dismissal of the CIA’s conclusions and his apparent determination to undermine the work of American intelligence analysts and agencies. The integrity and transparency of the election process is fundamental to our democracy, and we must closely examine the state-sponsored hacking and misinformation campaign deployed by Russia in order to prevent it from happening again in the future.

“I am encouraged by the bipartisan support for further investigation into Russia’s activities. In particular, I want to commend the efforts of Congressman Elijah Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Congressman Eric Swalwell, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, who have introduced a bill that will establish a bipartisan, independent commission to examine Russia’s attempt to shape the 2016 election’s outcome. I also welcome President Obama's decision to order a comprehensive report on Russia’s activities and the bipartisan request for investigation in the Senate led by Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham, and Democrats Charles Schumer and Jack Reed. I call on my Republican colleagues in the House to support these investigations in order to restore the public’s confidence in our electoral process.”

###