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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 21 March 2018

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Senators push for better security for 2018 election season

nication among the various tions will translate into leg-
U.S. intelligence agencies islation. Burr said his panel
and federal, state and lo- doesn't have jurisdiction
cal governments about cy- over the issues, so another
ber threats and vulnerabili- committee would have to
ties in computer systems. write any bills in Congress.
The committee's recom- "While our investigation is
mendations preview an still ongoing, one conclu-
election security report ex- sion is clear: The Russians
pected to be released in were relentless in attempt-
full in the coming weeks. ing to meddle in the 2016
It is the first of four reports elections, and they will
the panel plans to write in continue their efforts to un-
its wide-ranging investiga- dermine public confidence
tion into Russian meddling in Western democracies
in the 2016 election.Com- and in the legitimacy of our
mittee Chairman Richard elections," said Republican
Burr, R-N.C., and Virginia Sen. Susan Collins of Maine.
Sen. Mark Warner, the top Burr said the committee's
Democrat on the panel, re- investigation revealed that
leased the recommenda- the Russian cyber effort
tions ahead of a Wednes- exposed "some of the key
day hearing examining gaps" in the security of the
Members of the Senate Intelligence Committee, including Chairman Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., attempted hacks on state nation's election infrastruc-
left, Vice Chair Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, Sen. James Lankford, R- election systems in 2016 ture. He said the commit-
Okla., and Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., react as the group declines to answer a question about and the federal and state tee wants to maintain state
President Donald Trump, Tuesday, March 20, 2018, on Capitol Hill in Washington. response. control of elections, but the
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) The proposals, in large part, federal government should
echo those made by cy- be doing more to help.
By MARY JALONICK tions Russian agents are states to make sure voting bersecurity experts and "Clearly we've got to get
Associated Press preparing a new round of machines have paper au- address concerns raised some standards in place
WASHINGTON (AP) — election interference this dit trails and aren't capable by state and local officials. that assure every state that
Government efforts to year. of being connected to the Even with Republican and at the end of the day they
protect state and local The committee's recom- internet. Senators also are Democratic support, it's un- can certify their vote to-
elections from Russian cy- mendations include urging pushing for better commu- clear if the recommenda- tals," he said.q
berattacks in 2016 didn't
go far enough, leaders of
committee said Tuesday as McConnell says he has confidence in Mueller
the
intelligence
Senate
the panel released recom-
mendations to safeguard By MARY JALONICK nell said. "So I have a lot of for a federal inquiry. "A to- but that they want to see
against foreign meddling Associated Press confidence in him." tal WITCH HUNT with mas- the investigation come to
in the 2018 primary season WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen- McConnell was silent sive conflicts of interest!" an end. She said Trump's
that's already underway. ate Majority Leader Mitch through the weekend as Trump tweeted. tweets were about his frus-
Federal warnings last time McConnell on Tuesday ex- other Republicans alter- Mueller is leading a crimi- tration with the process.
did not provide enough in- pressed confidence in spe- nately criticized Trump for nal probe into whether Trump has fumed to con-
formation or in some cases cial counsel Robert Muel- his series of tweets and ex- Trump's 2016 presidential fidants that the Mueller
go to the right people in ler and said he should be pressed faith that he would campaign had ties to Rus- probe is "going to choke
state and local govern- allowed to "finish his job," not move to have Mueller sia and whether there has the life out of" his presiden-
ments, the committee's the Senate leader's first re- removed. House Speaker been obstruction of justice cy if allowed to continue in-
leaders said, though they sponse to President Donald Paul Ryan said Tuesday he since then. definitely, according to an
reiterated that there was Trump's recent outburst of had "received assurances" White House officials and outside adviser who spoke
no evidence votes were criticism of Mueller and his that Mueller would not be Trump's lawyers repeatedly on condition of anonymity
changed. Russian agents investigation into Russian in- fired. said over the weekend that to discuss private conversa-
targeted election systems terference in the 2016 elec- Trump blistered Mueller Mueller would not be fired. tions with the president.
in 21 states ahead of the tion. and his investigation all White House press secretary Other notable Republicans
2016 general election, the "I think he will have great weekend on Twitter and Sarah Huckabee Sanders have told Trump to cut it
Homeland Security Depart- credibility with the Ameri- started in again Monday, said Tuesday that the White out. Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizo-
ment has said, and top U.S. can people when he questioning the probe's le- House does not think firing na, a frequent Trump critic,
intelligence officials have reaches a conclusion of gitimacy with language no Mueller would be "the most even raised the prospect of
said they've seen indica- this investigation," McCon- recent president has used productive step forward," impeachment.q