Senate Subcommittee Hearing: Alleged Russian Influence on U.S. Election

REPORT:  RUSSIA TRYING TO INTERFERE IN U.S. ELECTIONS “SINCE THE 1960S”

by Sharon Rondeau

(May 8, 2017) — The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism hearing began at approximately 2:32 p.m. EDT chaired by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC).

Graham began by setting forth his goals for the hearing and stating that he has accepted that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election.

He also mentioned that French President-Elect Emmanuel Macron’s campaign servers were breached by an unknown party as yet, but suggested it could be Russia.

Graham said he will be asking about the process of “unmasking” a U.S. citizen and to safeguard it from being used as a political tool. He referred to the process as “702.”

“We’re here to find out all things Russia…” Graham said.

At 2:37, Graham yielded to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI).

Reading from a document, Whitehouse said that the FBI had reported that Russia had initiated an effort to disrupt the U.S. election and said that the subcommittee wished to know which tools of the “Russian toolbox” had been used against us.  He claimed that Russia launched a “deliberate, well-organized” effort to favor Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton.

A large chart titled “The Russian Toolbox in the 2016 Election” was held up by aides standing behind Whitehouse and Sen. Richard Durbin.

Whitehouse said that a former Trump aide, Roger Stone, had admitted to communicating with “Guccifer 2.0,” who Whitehouse said was a “Russian agent.”

Stone has expressed a desire to testify to Congress but has not been called to the public’s knowledge.

Whitehouse elaborated on each of the items in the “toolbox,” which he said include “shady business dealings.” Whitehouse then said that Trump has attempted to expand his business holdings to Russia.

He said that Trump should release his “business and tax returns” to elucidate the public on any ties he might have to Russian money.

Reading from the document, Whitehouse said it remains a “very big question” as to whether or not Trump has business with Russia.

He mentioned the name “Carter Page,” an informal Trump adviser who reportedly did have business in Russia.

Whitehouse said that Trump’s former national security adviser, Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn (Ret), spoke with Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak on December 29, the same day on which Obama imposed sanctions and the expulsion of Russian diplomats from the U.S. for Russia’s alleged role in disrupting the election.

He said that the Trump administration has shown bad judgment in regard to the Russia allegations.

At 2:48, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and Yates were sworn in.

Clapper then gave an animated opening statement.

Clapper said while DNI, the U.S. intelligence community compiled a report as to how Russia interfered in the U.S. election, including an “influence campaign” to help Trump.  Clapper said that directors of three intel agencies and he have signed off on the assessment.

Clapper claimed that “The Russians collected data” on the Republicans but did not release it.

WikiLeaks, which released emails from the DNC last summer and from Clinton campaign manager John Podesta’s email account in October, has said that no “state” provided them.

At 2:53, Clapper explained “unmasking,” the result of which he said is “provided only to the person who asked for it.”

He confirmed that there were 1,934 U.S. identities revealed through unmasking from data collected by U.S. intelligence agencies.

Clapper said that unmasking is “legitimate,” while “leaking” is the improper divulging of classified information.

Clapper clarified that “702” refers to the surveillance of a “non-U.S. person outside of the United States” as stated in the FISA law of 1978.

He said that Russia has been attempting to affect the outcome of U.S. elections “since the 1960s.”

At 2:59, Yates began her opening statement after Clapper introduced her.

She said that she “was honored” to have served in government for 27 years, beginning as an assistant U.S. attorney in Atlanta.

Yates said that “career men and women” at the Department of Justice were professional and conscientious.

She thanked the subcommittee for conducting a “fair and impartial investigation” into Russian activity in the U.S. election.

Yates mirrored Clapper’s earlier statement that she cannot address classified information in a public setting.

Her statement ended at 3:02.

Graham then asked for any committee questions, to which Sen. Dianne Feinstein responded and was given the floor.  She described the involvement of Russia as “a foregone conclusion.”