Pelosi Statement on Report Confirming Putin’s Political Thuggery on American Democracy

January 6, 2017

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi released this statement following the release of excerpts from an Intelligence community report confirming that Russia launched a campaign to influence the results of the recent U.S. election. Pelosi, the longest serving Member of the House Intelligence Committee, is a former Ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee.

"The report released today should be required reading for anyone who cares about our democracy and our national security.

"In the report, the key judgments of U.S. intelligence agencies state with high confidence, 'We assess Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign in 2016 aimed at the U.S. presidential election. Russia's goals were to undermine public faith in the U.S. democratic process, denigrate Secretary Clinton, and harm her electability and potential presidency. We further assess Putin and the Russian Government developed a clear preference for President-elect Trump.'

"As stunning as this report is in its revelations, I wish the American people could have access to more details. The American people have a right to know what a foreign power did to disrupt our election, regardless of the election's outcome.

"There must be a bipartisan, independent, outside commission to understand how Russia hacked into our democratic institutions, and to ensure it never happens again. I am pleased to co-sponsor the Swalwell-Cummings legislation to launch that investigation to protect the integrity of our democracy.

"Vladimir Putin's assault on American democracy was political thuggery in support of Donald Trump, and there must be consequences."