SHAHEEN: President Trump’s Invitation to Interfere in 2020 Election Will Not Fall on Deaf Ears

(Washington, DC)—U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s interview with ABC News in which he said, “I think I’d take it” when asked if he’d accept information on an opponent offered by a foreign government: 

“As the Commander in Chief, the President swore an oath to protect this country. It is incredibly alarming and tremendously dangerous for the President to openly invite another attack on our democracy,” said Shaheen. “This message will not fall on deaf ears as our adversaries are ramping up their efforts and looking for every opportunity to influence our elections. Republicans and Democrats need to be united in bolstering our nation’s defenses. Majority Leader McConnell must stop obstructing the many bipartisan efforts to safeguard our democratic institutions and allow votes on these critical measures. It’s imperative that we respond to this threat as one nation.” 

Senator Shaheen, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, has led efforts in Congress to root out malign foreign influences in American politics, policy and discourse. Earlier this week, Shaheen introduced bipartisan legislation with a group of lawmakers to give the Foreign Agents Disclosure and Registration Act (FARA) real teeth to investigate foreign lobbying campaigns in the United States. As the lead Democrat on the Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Department of Justice, Senator Shaheen has prioritized legislation in Congress to bolster the Department of Justice’s authority to investigate potential violations of FARA. Shaheen is also a cosponsor of the Election Security Act, which would boost funding for infrastructure that secures our elections. A senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Shaheen has prioritized funding to provide election security improvements. 

Senator Shaheen has also spearheaded efforts in Congress to hold Russia accountable for its interference in the 2016 elections, most recently partnering with Senators Menendez (D-NJ), Graham (R-SC), Gardner (R-CO) and Cardin (D-MD) on bipartisan sanctions legislation to increase economic, political and diplomatic pressure on the Russian Federation. Because of her role as a negotiator on previous Russia sanctions legislation known as “CAATSA” and her efforts to hold Russia accountable for its aggression, Shaheen was sanctioned by the Kremlin in 2017.