Cummings to House GOP Leaders—“Join Us Now”
Cummings to House GOP Leaders—"Join Us Now"
Continues to Press for Bipartisan
Investigation of Russian Interference in Election
Washington D.C. (Dec. 11, 2016)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, issued the following statement in response to reports that an increasing number of Republicans are beginning to support a bipartisan congressional review of Russia's interference in the U.S. presidential election:
"I am very encouraged that an increasing number of bipartisan voices are now supporting our proposal for a congressional review of Russia's interference in our election. I have been saying for some time that we need a robust and bipartisan examination of this issue, but unfortunately there has been radio silence from House Republican leaders. I strongly urge Speaker Ryan, Chairman Chaffetz, and other House Republicans to join us now in our effort to launch a robust and truly bipartisan investigation of Russian interference in our election that puts our nation's interests over the interests of any political party."
Cummings first proposed that the House of Representatives examine this issue in a letter to Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz on November 17, 2016. Unfortunately, to date, Cummings has received no response to his request.
As a result, on December 7, 2016, Cummings joined Rep. Eric Swalwell, the Ranking Member of the CIA Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, to introduce legislation to establish a bipartisan independent commission modeled after the 9/11 Commission to conduct a vigorous and truly independent examination and report back to the American people on its findings and recommendations.
Cummings' request followed an earlier letter he wrote on August 30, 2016, to FBI Director James Comey, along with Reps. John Conyers, Jr., Elliot L. Engel, and Bennie G. Thompson, the Ranking Members of the House Committees on the Judiciary, Foreign Affairs, and Homeland Security, raising a wide range of concerns.