In a surprising revelation, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, says he first learned of suspected Russian hacking during the presidential campaign from media reports.
Reed says a small group of members of Congress were briefed earlier, but he and many of his colleagues received detailed intelligence information only after the story began to be fleshed out in the press.
Rhode Island’s senior U.S. senator, Reed has joined Republican Senator John McCain in calling for a Senate investigation of suspected Russian efforts to influence the presidential election.
As Reed tells Rhode Island Public Radio’s Scott MacKay, the allegations of cyber hacking and misinformation directed by Russian officials pose a serious threat to voter confidence in this and future elections.
During the conversation, Reed also discusses concerns about the president-elect’s cabinet picks, and statements that he will forgo daily intelligence briefings.