{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senators-cardin-feinstein-leahy-call-for-independent-nonpartisan-commission-to-investigate-russian-interference-in-election", "Senators Cardin, Feinstein, Leahy Call for Independent Nonpartisan Commission to Investigate Russian Interference in Election", "2016-12-12", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Benjamin Cardin", "C000141", "www.cardin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 12, 2016\n\t\t\t Senators Cardin, Feinstein, Leahy Call for Independent Nonpartisan Commission to Investigate Russian Interference in Election \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) called Monday for the creation of an independent, nonpartisan commission to comprehensively investigate alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.\r\nThe commission would fully investigate alleged Russian cyberattacks on U.S. political entities and election infrastructure, seek to identify those responsible, and recommend a response as well as actions the U.S. can take to defend itself in the future. \u00a0Modeled on other independent commissions, this body would compile all available classified intelligence and open source information, conduct hearings and interviews, with subpoena power, and report its findings to Congress within 18 months from being formed. The membership of the commission would be individuals appointed by the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional leadership.\r\nAfter the White House announced it was conducting its own review into alleged Russian interference in the election late last week, reporting in The Washington Post raised serious further questions about this matter. And in October, the Director of National Intelligence confirmed that senior-level Russian officials were involved in the hacks of the emails of the Democratic National Committee and the Hillary Clinton presidential campaign.\r\nThe Senators\u2019 announcement today complements the call by bipartisan leadership in the Senate for Congressional investigations as well as support in the House of Representatives for an independent commission.\r\n\u201cWe\u2019ve seen what Russia can do with a MiG, but they can be equally destructive with a mouse. The American people deserve a nonpartisan, transparent, public investigation into this insidious attack on our democratic institutions,\u201d said Senator Cardin, ranking member of the Foreign Relations Committee. \u201cElections and the peaceful transfer of power are the foundational elements of our democracy.\u00a0\u00a0 They have been attacked and undermined by the world\u2019s most destabilizing major power. As a nation it\u2019s time to get to the bottom of it and learn what we can do to prevent it from ever happening again.\u201d\r\n\u201cAn attack against our election system is an attack on our very way of life and must not go unchallenged,\u201d said Senator Feinstein, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. \u201cWe need this commission to determine if my personal belief is correct\u2014that the real intent of what appears to be a classic Russian covert influence campaign was to harm the candidacy of the Democratic candidate or undermine our democratic system. This bipartisan commission will help identify the specific \u2018actors\u2019 responsible and recommend a possible course of action to prevent this from ever happening again.\u201d\r\n\u201cFor the last 20 years, as chairman or ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I have worked to protect the voting rights of all Americans. \u00a0But the right to vote \u2013 the foundation of our democracy \u2013 is undermined if a foreign country can interfere with our democratic process,\u201d said Senator Leahy, ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.\u00a0 \u201cIt is time to rise above the fray and engage in a serious, independent, and bipartisan investigation of the allegations that the Russians interfered with the American presidential election. \u00a0This is larger than any one candidate or any one election.\u00a0 This is about protecting our democracy now, and going forward.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\r\nAbout the Commission:\r\n \r\nThe Commission to End Russian Interference in United States Elections will conduct a comprehensive review of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.\r\n \r\n \r\nThe Commission will provide the Congress, the Executive Branch, and the U.S. public with full information regarding how alleged Russian interference may have affected the 2016 election, as well as recommendations to protect our elections going forward, so that the American people and their leaders can have faith and confidence in the integrity of our elections, our Constitution, and\u00a0democratic form of government.\r\n \r\n \r\nThe Commission will be bipartisan, with members appointed by Republican and Democratic leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Members of Congress would not be members of the Committee.\r\n \r\n \r\nThe Members of the Commission would have access to all unclassified and classified information, including subpoena power, regarding all Russian activities with regards to the 2016 Presidential election.\r\n \r\n \r\nThe Commission will produce a Report within 18 months\u00a0outlining the facts of what occurred, in an unclassified form with a classified annex,\u00a0and make recommendations to the Congress and Executive on appropriate actions to defend our system of elections and government, including a plan to counter Russian interference in US elections.\r\n \r\n \r\nVladimir Putin has repeatedly shown the world that he aggressively seeks\u00a0to undermine\u00a0the sovereignty of sovereign countries,\u00a0democratic institutions, and the rule of law. \u00a0He is a threat to democracy, peace, security, and human rights worldwide. \u00a0 The Commission's report would show how and to what extent his activities, and the activities of those who do his bidding,\u00a0impact the political system of United States and the American people.\r\n \r\n\u00a0\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 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://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/senators-cardin-feinstein-leahy-call-for-independent-nonpartisan-commission-to-investigate-russian-interference-in-election"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 2.3402790538966656, "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"}