{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://conyers.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/conyers-hoyer-ranking-members-send-letter-president-obama-urging", "Conyers, Hoyer & Ranking Members Send Letter to President Obama Urging Briefings on Russian Interference in U.S. Election", "2016-12-06", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "MI", "John Conyers", "C000714", "conyers.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. joined Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, Foreign Affairs Committee Ranking Member Eliot Engel, Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson, Oversight and Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Elijah Cummings, Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith, and Intelligence Committee Ranking Member Adam Schiff sent a letter today to President Obama asking for Administration officials to brief all Members of Congress on Russian efforts to influence or interfere in the recent federal election.\nCiting concerns that \u201cRussia may have succeeded in weakening Americans\u2019 trust\u201d in our democratic institutions through its actions, the authors of the letter call attention to the hacking of American organizations, publication of private emails sent to or from campaign officials, as well as disclosures by WikiLeaks and fabricated news stories.\u00a0\n\u201cBy eroding Americans\u2019 and foreigners\u2019 trust in U.S. institutions,\u201d the letter states, \u201cRussia both weakens our country and sows global instability and uncertainty.\u00a0 \u2026To evaluate Congress\u2019s response appropriately, we would like all Members\u00a0 to have a comprehensive understanding of what the U.S. Intelligence Community knows regarding Russia\u2019s involvement in these actions and attempts to interfere in our election.\u201d\nThe full text of the letter can be read here and below.\n--\nDear Mr. President:\nWe are deeply concerned by Russian efforts to undermine, interfere with, and even influence the outcome of our recent election.\u00a0 This Russian malfeasance is not confined to us, but extends to our allies, our alliances and to democratic institutions around the world.\u00a0\u00a0\nThe integrity of democracy must never be in question, and we are gravely concerned that Russia may have succeeded in weakening Americans\u2019 trust in our electoral institutions through their cyber activity, which may also include sponsoring disclosures through WikiLeaks and other venues, and the production and distribution of fake news stories.\nForeign interference presents a win-win for Russia\u2014which we must counter.\u00a0 By eroding Americans\u2019 and foreigners\u2019 trust in U.S. institutions, Russia both weakens our country and sows global instability and uncertainty.\u00a0 Both present a boon for Russia and a loss for those working to maintain peace and prosperity around the world through the leadership of the United States and its allies.\u00a0\nTo evaluate Congress\u2019s response appropriately, we would like all Members\u00a0 to have a comprehensive understanding of what the U.S. Intelligence Community knows regarding Russia\u2019s involvement in these actions and attempts to interfere in our election.\u00a0 Specifically, we are requesting a classified briefing that will provide details regarding Russian entities\u2019 hacking of American political organizations; hacking and strategic release of emails from campaign officials; the WikiLeaks disclosures; fake news stories produced and distributed with the intent to mislead American voters; and any other Russian or Russian-related interference or involvement in our recent election.\nWe thank you for your attention to this matter.\nSincerely,\nSTENY H. HOYER\nDemocratic Whip\nJOHN CONYERS\nRanking Member, Committee on Judiciary\nELIOT ENGEL\nRanking Member, Committee on Foreign Affairs\nBENNIE G. THOMPSON\nRanking Member, Committee on Homeland Security\nELIJAH E. CUMMINGS\nRanking Member, Committee on Oversight and Government Reform\nADAM SMITH\nRanking Member, Committee on Armed Services\nADAM SCHIFF\nRanking Member, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://conyers.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/conyers-hoyer-ranking-members-send-letter-president-obama-urging"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.492229988798499, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}