Norcross calls for more investigation into Russian hacking
After he was briefed on the alleged Russian hacking of the 2016 election, U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross is calling for the violation to be “fully investigated and publicly addressed.”
Norcross said in a statement Saturday that the continued investigation is necessary to make sure future elections aren’t affected and to restore residents’ faith in the democratic process.
“We must work together, fully investigate what happened, bring the truth to light, and respond as Americans in defense of the values and freedoms we all hold dear,” Norcross said in the statement.
The Congressman said he attended a classified briefing on the intelligence report titled that National Intelligence Director James Clapper, FBI Director James Comey, CIA Director John Brennan, and NSA Director Admiral Michael Rogers presented to members of congress.
The Camden event was one of many around the country to protest the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
The agencies concluded that Putin “ordered an influence campaign” to “undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency,” according to the report.
President-elect Donald Trump initially questioned the intelligence agencies conclusions that Russia interfered to swing the election in his favor, but he admitted in a press conference last week that he accepts that Russia was behind at least some of the hacking.
Dozens of House Democrats are calling for the creation of a bipartisan commission to look at efforts by Russia and other parties to influence the 2016 election.
All seven Democratic representatives from New Jersey, including Norcross, support the measure.
“The Russian government acted to undermine the very fabric of our democracy,” Norcross said in the statement. “This is not a partisan red or blue issue, this is an American issue. Ignoring or denying the facts, or even dismissing their importance, is a serious mistake.”