Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Jim Himes, Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, released a response to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s claims about Russian interference in the 2016 Election.

“In a transparent effort to distract from bipartisan criticism of the Trump Administration’s refusal to release the Jeffrey Epstein files that it promised months ago, Director Gabbard is seeking to cast doubt on the conclusions reached by the 2017 Intelligence Community Assessment entitled ‘Assessing Russian Activities and Intentions in Recent US Elections,’” Himes wrote. “As part of her effort to rewrite history, she has accused President Obama and other former officials of engaging in a conspiracy to commit treason—a claim as dangerous as it is baseless.”

Himes continued: “Contrary to the desperate claims of Director Gabbard, what occurred is not reasonably in dispute. During the 2016 election, the Russian government and Russian-linked actors undertook a range of influence activities, including the hacking and leaking of emails from Democratic institutions and leaders, a covert social media influence campaign, and overt messaging through state media. Malign efforts by a foreign government to influence our democratic process should be unacceptable to any patriotic American, regardless of the nation perpetrating it and regardless of which party it may help or hurt.”

View the full response here.