First House Republican signs bill creating committee to investigate Russia, election
Rep. Walter Jones (R-N.C.) has become the first House Republican to co-sponsor a bill calling for an independent investigation of foreign interference in the 2016 presidential election.
Republicans have generally opposed setting up a special committee to look into Russia’s hacking Democratic organizations and individuals, which President Trump has repeatedly minimized. At his press conference on Thursday, he called it a “ruse.”
But Jones has a long history of bucking his leadership, so his support for the Democratic bill does not come as a surprise.
“Congressman Jones is brave enough to do the right thing,” Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), who introduced the bill with Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), said in a statement.
The Protecting Our Democracy Act would create an 18-month, 12-member independent investigation into the role of Russia and any other foreign entity in the election.
The intelligence community last year determined that Russia leaked documents from the Democratic National Committee and other political targets in an attempt to hinder Hillary Clinton, delegitimize American democracy or both.
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has offered support for setting up a select committee to look into Russia’s involvement in the election.
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Gotta start somewhere, @GOP https://t.co/bqWOzH5Lzl
— John Schindler (@20committee) February 23, 2017
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