DEVELOPING: Democrats will not let Russian interference in our election stand

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) called on the FBI to investigate Russian tampering in the election in August. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), who will succeed Reid in his leadership role, and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have added their voices to that call. Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has been relentless in his pursuit of an investigation.

And in a request rare for its magnitude, Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and six other members of the Intelligence Committee are asking President Obama to declassify information related to Russia and the election.

But so far, other than Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), Republicans have stood idly by.

Now, in another letter to President Obama, Democratic congressional leaders are making a forceful request for all members of Congress “to have a comprehensive understanding of what the U.S. Intelligence Community knows”:

Specifically, we are requesting a classified briefing that will provide details regarding Russian entities’ hacking of American political organizations; hacking and strategic release of emails from campaign officials; the WikiLeaks disclosures; fake news stories produced and distributed with the intent to mislead American voters; and any other Russian or Russian-related interference or involvement in our recent election.

Along with my colleagues today, sent letter to @POTUS urging Administration to brief full House on Russian interference in the US election. pic.twitter.com/8cvGtnjd4n

— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) December 7, 2016

And Reps. Cummings and Eric Swalwell (D-CA), Ranking Member of the CIA Subcommittee of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (and newly named co-chair of the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee), have announced legislation to create a bipartisan 12-member commission “modeled on the widely praised 9/11 Commission” to investigate Russian cyber hacking.

I & @RepCummings have intro'd #ProtectOurDemocracy Act to create bipartisan commission to investigate foreign interference in US elections.

— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) December 7, 2016

As Democrats intensify their demand for these probes, Republicans would do well to heed to their colleague Senator Graham’s advice:

Here’s what I would tell Republicans: We cannot sit on the sidelines as a party and let allegations against a foreign government interfering in our election process go unanswered because it may have been beneficial to our cause.