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US Senate Intelligence Panel Leaders to Release Interim Report on Russia
Probe

by VOA News

   U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee leaders will update the public
   Wednesday on the committee's investigation into Russia's interference
   in the 2016 presidential election and whether Donald Trump's campaign
   colluded with the Kremlin to help propel Trump to victory.

   Republican committee chairman Richard Burr and ranking Democrat Mark
   Warner have scheduled a news conference to disclose the conclusions
   they have reached and plans to prevent Russian meddling in future U.S.
   elections, according to sources familiar with their plans.

   Committee officials reportedly believe they cannot wait until the probe
   is completed before emphasizing to the public that Russia will likely
   interfere again.

   The majority of Trump's national security team agree with the
   intelligence community's conclusion that Russia had indeed meddled in
   last year's election in favor of Trump. The president, however, has not
   said he believes them.

   During the course of the investigation, committee members and staff
   investigators have conducted mostly behind-the-doors interviews with
   several members of Trump's inner circle and the intelligence community.

   Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort was interviewed, as was
   senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, who also is Trump's
   son-in-law.

   Also questioned were senior executives of social media companies such
   as Facebook and Twitter, which displayed many of the Russian-supported
   advertisements that were intended to exacerbate divisions among voters
   on hot-button issues before the election.

   Burr and Warner may divulge more information about social media's role
   in the election.

   The committee has scheduled only a handful of public hearings, during
   which intelligence officials and the committee leaders have underscored
   that last year's elections probably have encouraged Russia to interfere
   in future U.S. elections. The White House is not up for grabs in the
   2018 elections, but the midterm contests could have an impact on
   Congress.