Small Bipartisan Group of Senators - Reports of Russian interference in our election should alarm every American

US President-Elect Donald Trump

A bipartisan group of senators made up of Charles Schumer (D-NY), John McCain (R-AZ), Jack Reed (D-RI) and former GOP presidential contender Lindsey Graham (R-SC) released a statement this morning to collaborate on combating outside cyberattacks, after President-elect Donald Trump waved off American Intelligence reports that Russia interfered with the presidential campaign with an intent to help President-elect Donald Trump win the White House.

“Democrats and Republicans must work together, and across the jurisdictional lines of the Congress, to examine these recent incidents thoroughly and devise comprehensive solutions to deter and defend against further cyber-attacks,” the statement said.

“This cannot become a partisan issue. The stakes are too high for our country.”

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"Congress's national security committees have worked diligently to address the complex challenge of cybersecurity, but recent events show that more must be done," said Sens. Chuck Schumer, the incoming Senate Democratic leader, Sen. John McCain, the Armed Services Committee chairman, fellow Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, and Sen. Jack Reed, the top Armed Services Committee
Democrat, in a Sunday morning statement.

"While protecting classified material, we have an obligation to inform the public about recent cyberattacks that have cut to the heart of our free society. Democrats and Republicans must work together, and across the jurisdictional lines of the Congress, to examine these recent incidents thoroughly and devise comprehensive solutions to deter and defend against further cyber-attacks."

The bipartisan letter comes two days after President-elect Trump sided with Russia over the CIA's intelligence assessment of Russia's possible role in the United States election hacking scheme.

The hacks, targeting emails at the Democratic Party and the emails of a key aide to presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, and on Friday, the US intelligence community went further when US media reports said the CIA had "high confidence" that Russians were trying to influence the election in Mr Trump's favour.

In an interview with Fox News President-Elect Trump blamed Democrats for "ridiculous" reports that blamed Russia for the attacks. Russian officials have repeatedly denied the hacking accusations.

"These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction," Trump's transition team said in an unsigned statement on Friday. "The election ended a long time ago in one of the biggest Electoral College victories in history. It's now time to move on and 'Make America Great Again.'"

The transition team's reference could be setting up the Trump Administration for cold relations with the CIA and other US Intelligence agencies before they even take up residence in the White House.

President-Elect Trump has also said that he does not require daily intelligence briefings because he's a "smart person", choosing instead to take intelligence briefings once a week.

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