WASHINGTON– Senate Intelligence Committee leaders Wednesday said possible collusion between Trump campaign staff and the Russian government during the 2016 election remains an open question, but just as pressing are their questions about possible past and ongoing Russian efforts to influence voters through social media.
“We have more work to do as it relates to collusion, but we’re developing a clearer picture as to what happened,” said Committee Chairman Sen. Richard Burr at a news conference.
Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the committee, said the committee also is focusing on whether Russia tried to “sow chaos and drive division in our country” through social media.
“We feel that they used paid advertising – and what I believe is more problematic – created false accounts and others that would drive interest towards stories or groups” that were polarizing, he said.
When asked if he was calling on Facebook to release advertisements suspected to have been employed by Russians to influence the election, Warner said he believed it’s important for the public to see the advertisements.
The committee’s focus on social media has taken priority over its efforts to investigate a dossier released by Christopher Steele, a former British intelligence officer, that made salacious claims about President Trump’s relationship with various Russian officials.
“As it relates to the Steele dossier, unfortunately the committee has hit a wall,” said Burr, after revealing that the committee could not get in touch with Steele. “The committee cannot really decide the credibility of the dossier without understanding things like who paid for it, and who are your sources and sub-sources?”
Burr did, however, issue a warning to Steele as well as other potential sources who have not cooperated with the committee.
“If we believe you have something valuable to bring to the committee, if you don’t voluntarily do it, I assure you today that you will be compelled to do it,” he said.
Burr also announced that the committee has ended its investigation into private memos by former FBI Director James Comey regarding his meetings with President Donald Trump.
Burr said both committee leaders feel it’s important to reveal the committee’s findings well before the midterm elections in November 2018.
“I think Mark and I would agree: We’ve got to make our facts as it relates to Russia’s involvement in our election public prior to the primaries getting started in 2018.”