08.05.20

Durbin: Russian Interference In Our Elections Is A Threat To Our Democracy

WASHINGTON – During today’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing entitled “Oversight of the Crossfire Hurricane Investigation: Day 2,” which featured former Deputy Attorney General (AG) and Acting AG Sally Yates, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) slammed Michael Flynn’s inappropriate behavior and communications with Russia both before and after the 2016 election.  Durbin also warned about ongoing attempts to interfere in the upcoming 2020 general election.  Last month, American intelligence officials issued a public warning that China, Iran, and Russia were expanding their influence efforts in the United States ahead of the 2020 presidential election.  The warning came from William R. Evanina, the Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center.

“If you believe that Russian interference in American elections is a threat to our democracy, and I do and most others do as well, then this approach by General Flynn is antithetical to what we consider to be the basic fundamentals of our nation.  And a man, certainly a man aspiring to be National Security Advisor to the President, should know better,” said Durbin.

Durbin also noted that today marks the second time during the Trump Administration that Sally Yates has testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee.  That sum equals the total number of times that Attorney General Sessions, Acting Attorney General Whitaker, and Attorney General Barr have appeared before this Committee in their official capacity combined. 

Video of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Audio of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here.

Footage of Durbin’s questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.

On June 3, 2020, Chairman Graham held his first hearing on this topic with former Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein.  During that hearing, Durbin called out Senate Republicans for using the hearing as a distraction from the important work Congress should be doing to address the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic racism, and the other challenges facing our nation today. 

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