Senate Democrats are doubling down on their push for Congress to pass additional election security legislation, after special counsel Robert MuellerRobert (Bob) Swan MuellerThe Hill’s 12:30 Report: Trump orders more troops to Mideast amid Iran tensions Trump: Democrats just want Mueller to testify for a ‘do-over’ Graham: Mueller investigation a ‘political rectal exam’ MORE warned about the threat of election meddling on Wednesday.
Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark WarnerMark Robert WarnerFacebook defends decision to keep up Pelosi video Trump declassification move unnerves Democrats Hillicon Valley: Assange hit with 17 more charges | Facebook removes record 2.2B fake profiles | Senate passes anti-robocall bill | Senators offer bill to help companies remove Huawei equipment MORE (D-Va.) said Mueller made it clear during his remarks at the Justice Department that Congress should take steps to prevent future election interference.
“We must take steps to protect our democracy by passing legislation that enhances election security, increases social media transparency, and requires campaign officials to report any contact with foreign nationals attempting to coordinate with a campaign,” Warner said in a statement.
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Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, called Mueller’s comments an “urgent plea for action.” Meanwhile, Sen. Christopher CoonsChristopher (Chris) Andrew CoonsOil companies join blitz for carbon tax Mnuchin says carbon capture tax credit guidance will be out soon Mnuchin signals administration won’t comply with subpoena for Trump tax returns MORE (D-Del.) added that Mueller “reiterated clearly and unequivocally that Russia attacked our democracy by interfering with our 2016 election.”
“As we approach the 2020 elections, we must invest more in election security and protect our democracy. This must not be a partisan issue; protecting our democratic process is far more important than politics,” Coons said.
Mueller spoke publicly on Wednesday for the first time since handing over his report on the nearly two-year investigation into Russia’s election interference and President TrumpDonald John TrumpDemocrat to announce Senate bid Wednesday against Lindsey Graham Harris praises Amash for calling for Trump’s impeachment: He has ‘put country before party’ NY Times reporter wears wedding dress to cover Trump in Japan after last-minute dress code MORE‘s 2016 campaign.
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Mueller indicated during the press conference, where he did not take questions, that he did not want to testify before Congress about the more than 400-page report, saying his potential testimony would not go beyond what was in his sprawling report.
But he used his closing remarks to warn about election interference from foreign governments, calling it the “central allegation of our indictments.”
“I will close by reiterating the central allegation of our indictments — that there were multiple, systematic efforts to interfere in our election. That allegation deserves the attention of every American,” Mueller told reporters.
But election interference legislation has hit a roadblock on Capitol Hill, where Mueller’s findings have failed to break the months-long stalemate over election security legislation.
House Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiHillicon Valley: Facebook defends keeping up Pelosi video | Zuckerberg faces contempt of Canadian parliament | Social media giants remove Iran-linked misinformation campaign | WHO calls video game addiction a health ‘disorder’ Facebook defends decision to keep up Pelosi video ‘What you eat, you become’: Chef José Andrés reveals what he’d cook for Trump MORE (D-Calif.) on Wednesday argued that the Senate should take up H.R. 1, a wide-ranging election and ethics reform bill, and pledged that Congress will “legislate to protect our elections and secure our democracy.”
But Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellMcConnell says Republicans would fill 2020 Supreme Court vacancy GOP candidate expects Roy Moore to announce Senate bid in June The Hill’s 12:30 Report: Justices sidestep major abortion decision despite pressure MORE (R-Ky.) has declared the House bill dead on arrival in the GOP-controlled Senate.
Republican senators have also argued that the House legislation poisoned the well for larger negotiations on an election security package ahead of the 2020 election, and indicated the chamber is unlikely to pass its own bill.
Senate Rules Committee Chairman Roy BluntRoy Dean BluntHit singer Andy Grammer says ‘unity’ more important than any political party Top GOP senator: ‘More harassment than oversight’ in House Hillicon Valley: Trump takes flak for not joining anti-extremism pact | Phone carriers largely end sharing of location data | Huawei pushes back on ban | Florida lawmakers demand to learn counties hacked by Russians | Feds bust 0M cybercrime group MORE (R-Mo.) said during a committee hearing earlier this month that “at this point I don’t see any likelihood that those bills would get to the floor if we mark them up.”
Still, Democrats are seeking to put pressure on McConnell for the Senate to take up legislation, reiterating their calls following Mueller’s remarks on Wednesday.
Senate Minority Leader Charles SchumerCharles (Chuck) Ellis SchumerMcConnell says Republicans would fill 2020 Supreme Court vacancy Tackling climate change: How lawmakers are facing environmental injustice No agreement on budget caps in sight ahead of Memorial Day recess MORE (D-N.Y.) said Mueller “made clear” that Russia tried to interfere in “the wellspring of our democracy,” adding that if lawmakers did nothing the interference could be worse in 2020.
“If President Trump and Congress don’t do anything, it will be worse in 2020 and yet, inexplicably, Senator McConnell and the Republicans in the Senate are blocking bipartisan election security legislation, despite Democrats’ repeated calls to protect our democracy from interference—by Russia or any other foreign adversary,” Schumer said in a statement.
Sen. Tina SmithTina Flint SmithWhat if scientists, not politicians, called the shots on climate policy GOP Senate campaign arm hits battleground-state Dems over ‘Medicare for All,’ Green New Deal Hillicon Valley: Washington preps for Mueller report | Barr to hold Thursday presser | Lawmakers dive into AI ethics | FCC chair moves to block China Mobile | Dem bill targets ‘digital divide’ | Microsoft denies request for facial recognition tech MORE (D-Minn.) added in a tweet: “Congress has a job to do here. Hello Mitch McConnell? Are you there?”