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Thank you Mr. Chairman and I want to echo first of all your comments commending all of the witnesses, but particularly Director Clapper and Director Brennan for your great service to our country.

Also want to acknowledge both of the new members here, Senator Manchin and Senator Harris. I know Senator Cornyn will be joining us briefly. And while she’s not here yet, I want to acknowledge the great role that Senator Feinstein has played both as Chair and Vice Chair of this committee.

We are here today to discuss the Intelligence Community’s comprehensive review into Russian interference on our 2016 presidential election – for me, one of the most serious events of my public life. 

Interference in American democracy and our electoral process by any outside power is unacceptable. 

Much of the press reporting and conversation about Russian actions have focused on the hacks of the DNC and John Podesta.

But as the report pointed out, the Russians also hacked systems associated with Republicans. They just chose to not release that material…yet. 

There is nothing that prevents them from doing so at a time of their choosing in the future. 

While the target of this campaign was Secretary Clinton, any of us, Democrats or Republicans – including members of this body – could easily be the next target. 

What the Russians did was nothing less than an attack on our political system and democracy itself. We simply cannot allow that to stand.

This IC assessment is more detailed, but it is in line with previous assessments from the intelligence community that Russian officials at the highest levels – including President Putin – engaged in—your words not mine—an unprecedented level of interference in our election. It concludes that these actions had the goal of harming the candidacy of Hillary Clinton, and boosting the candidacy of President-elect Donald Trump.

We are not here to re-litigate the results of the election. At the same time, I am committed to ensuring that there is a thorough, bipartisan, and expeditious Congressional investigation of Russia’s role.

In my view, our Committee should focus on three broad areas: The Russian hacking and release of stolen information; Russia’s use of state-owned media and other means to amplify real and fake news to further their goal; and contact between the Russian government and its agents, and associates of any campaign and candidate.

I—like you Mr. Chairman—have written to all of the witnesses here today, asking them to cooperate with us in this investigation, and to turn over as many documents and as much evidence as they can, as quickly as they can.

I am reiterating that call today. It is equally important that the incoming Administration and those folks who will take Director Clapper and Director Brennan’s roles going forward will continue to cooperate on this effort.

Additionally, is my hope, while we’ve made a first step, that we will continue to try to declassify as much of this material as is possible, while again protecting sources and methods.

The American people deserve to know, as soon as possible, that their elected representatives have taken a close look at the intelligence report that we are considering today.

They deserve to know whether we concur or not with its conclusions, and that we are prepared to respond to the threats outlined in this assessment.

The actions the President took recently in response to Russian activities was an appropriate and first step. At the same time, I still have questions [as to] why the Obama Administration didn’t act further and didn’t act sooner.  

But as we look forward, preventing future attempts to undermine our democracy and our position in the world will require a sustained response from the incoming administration, and from this Congress.

I truly believe the strength of America’s democracy will be measured, in part, on what actions we take to develop a robust and proactive cyber strategy. Part of that strategy must include tools and capabilities to deter and effectively respond to future attempts by foreign actors to influence America’s democratic process.

One of things I have always valued about my service on the Intelligence Committee is the tradition of members leaving partisanship at the door when often times when we go into that SCIF. I look forward to working with you, Mr. Chairman, and all our members, to complete this investigation as quickly and expeditiously as possible.

And gentlemen, the work that your agencies completed underscores the important role of our nation’s Intelligence Community plays  and the men and women who work quietly every day to keep our country safe. 

This report represents the best analysis of the men and women of the Intelligence Community. These are professionals who have taken an oath of office to present the whole truth, as they see it, faithfully to Democratic and Republican Administrations alike.

As a member of this Committee, and I think all of us who have served for some time, I have seen firsthand the dedication of the men and women that work for you.  

I know that one of the primary missions of the intelligence professionals is to render their best professional judgment, regardless of political considerations and always be willing to speak truth to power. I support them for their work. Thank you Mr. Chairman.

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