Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Sires issued the following statement on Russia’s continued efforts to undermine democracy in the United States, Europe, and around the world:

“Today the Foreign Affairs Committee held a hearing on Russia’s continued aggression towards our European allies and its efforts to undermine democracies all over the world. I spoke about how Russian interference in the U.S. and other elections should not be a partisan issue. 

Unfortunately, I am all too familiar with the depths a communist regime will go to in order to manipulate the public and repress those who seek to expose its injustices. Growing up in Cuba I witnessed the indoctrination efforts, and saw firsthand the lengths authoritarian regimes go to to exert influence. 

All of our panelists expressed zero doubt that the Russians interfered in our election. Now, I call on my colleagues to insist upon an independent investigation and special prosecutor to fully uncover the extent to Russia’s nefarious actions and to help gird our democracy against future intrusions. I hope this hearing was just the first in a series of robust actions taken by the House Foreign Affairs Committee to keep its promise to the American people, to leave politics at the water’s edge, and punish foreign powers who work to do us harm.”