House Democrats plead for Paul Ryan's help in obtaining Russia election-hacking documents
![Paul Ryan.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vbaKSNkTMSokivjqkdB8RE-415-80.jpg)
Six congressional Democrats have penned a letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), pleading for his help in obtaining documents regarding Russia's interference in state election systems in 2016.
The letter, sent Tuesday, asked Ryan to appeal to President Trump's administration to release records related to the 21 states where the Department of Homeland Security found that Russia had attacked "election-related systems" leading up to the presidential election. The DHS said there was no evidence that votes were altered as a result of the hack.
The group of House Democrats — all ranking members of congressional committees — said that they were turning to Ryan to get the documents because the Trump administration had blocked all their other efforts.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"It is inexcusable the Republican leaders in Congress have done so little to investigate — or address — Russian-backed attacks on our states, despite the fact that we have been asking repeatedly for congressional action on this important matter," reads the letter. "Unfortunately we are being blocked by Trump administration officials who refuse to produce these documents to Congress and by Republican chairmen who refuse to demand them. These actions create the unfortunate perception that House Republicans do not want to obtain these documents relating to the Russian attacks against state election systems."
Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Robert Brady (D-Pa.), Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), and Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) asked Ryan to personally intervene so that Congress could evaluate the Russian attack and determine how to prevent future interference. They said that the Trump administration had provided them with 50 pages of documents related to the attack, but said they were unclassified records that didn't provide any new information.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Summer Meza has worked at The Week since 2018, serving as a staff writer, a news writer and currently the deputy editor. As a proud news generalist, she edits everything from political punditry and science news to personal finance advice and film reviews. Summer has previously written for Newsweek and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, covering national politics, transportation and the cannabis industry.
-
Ukraine's Olympians: going for gold in the line of fire
Under the Radar Hundreds of the country's athletes have died in battle, while those who remain deal with the psychological toll of war and prospect of Russian competitors
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
Menendez convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortion
Speed Read The New Jersey Democratic Senator was found guilty in a federal corruption trial
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Florida judge dismisses Trump documents case
Speed Read Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Hamas says military chief survived Israeli strike
Speed Read An Israeli bombing failed to hit its intended target, military commander Mohammed Deif, but killed at least 90 Palestinians
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
First Israeli report on Oct. 7 finds 'severe mistakes and errors' in IDF response
Speed Reads Israeli military admits failures in response to deadly Hamas attack that triggered Gaza war
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Biden saw neurologist during physicals
Speed Read Following his bad debate performance, many are asking questions about the president's brain
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Russia bombs Kyiv children's hospital
Speed Reads The daytime barrage interrupted heart surgeries and killed at least 40 people
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published