Rep. Waters: FBI Director Comey Advanced Russia’s Misinformation Campaign

For Immediate Release
March 21, 2017
Contact: Twaun Samuel
Phone: (202) 225-2201
E-mail: Twaun.Samuel@mail.house.gov

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, released the following statement in response to the House Intelligence Committee's public hearing on Russian Active Measures Investigation:

"I think the American people now understand one reason why I believe FBI Director Comey has no credibility and why I've said that we need an independent commission to uncover the truth. Today, in publicly confirming the FBI is investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election and the Kremlin's possible coordination with individuals associated with the Trump campaign, Director Comey also disclosed that the investigation has been ongoing since July 2016. Director Comey needs to answer one question: If he had information about the extent of Russia's efforts to hack Donald Trump's political opponents last July, why would he effectively advance their efforts by releasing a letter confirming a review of "newly uncovered" Clinton emails recovered from an unrelated investigation in October that turned out to reveal no new information? Why did special circumstances in that instance warrant the FBI Director publicly commenting on Clinton emails but not the fact that Russia was waging an attack on our democracy, possibly in coordination with individuals associated with the Trump campaign?

"I believe that Director Comey bears some responsibility, along with the Russians, in adding to the confusion and misinformation campaign that led to the election of Donald Trump. Now, Director Comey presides over an FBI under a Department of Justice headed by an Attorney General who lied under oath, and both serve under a President who has shown he will stop at nothing to obstruct and distract from any credible investigations of his campaign's ties to Russia.

"Even more troubling, based on the House Intel Republicans' exclusive focus during today's hearing on the leaks and not the Russian cyberattacks, it is clear to me that the House Intelligence Committee under the leadership of Chairman Nunes cannot be trusted to thoroughly investigate this matter. In fact, the Republicans' questioning was more in line with President Trump's incendiary tweets than the actual intelligence the members received from the public servants charged with ensuring our national security. Republicans must remember that Russia is not our ally and they better believe that the Russians and Putin would order a cyberattack on Republicans if it suited their geopolitical goals. Given the political motivations driving the White House and Republicans in Congress, we need a bipartisan, independent commission to investigate the Russian interference in our election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign."