Klobuchar and Wyden ask the FBI if the agency ever investigated a possible hack on Florida election software
Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), like many of their colleagues, are still not satisfied with the results of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's report on the investigation into 2016 Russian election interference. But the two Democrats are homing in on one aspect, in particular — the FBI's response to the possible hacking of a Florida election software company.
Klobuchar and Wyden sent a joint letter to the FBI on Wednesday, Politico reports. The senators want to know more about the FBI's handling of VR Systems, a Florida-based manufacturer of voter registration software and electronic pollbooks — the company discovered that suspicious IP addresses had visited their website in 2016, spurring them to contact law enforcement, as requested. The senators asked in the letter if the FBI examined VR Systems' services for a successful cyber breach, potentially orchestrated by Russian operatives. They added that they would like an explanation if this was not the case. The company has admitted it was targeted by hackers, but has said the attempt was not successful, which has not been publicly confirmed, reports Politico.
Furthermore, the letter seeks answers as to whether the FBI examined VR Systems' electronic pollbooks that malfunctioned during the 2016 election in Durham County, North Carolina, as well as whether the FBI reviewed forensic examinations of the manufacturer's servers, and, finally, how the agency is planning to ensure that similar technology is safe from cyber attacks ahead of the 2020 election. Read the full letter here.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
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.
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
Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.
-
The best homes of the year
Feature Featuring a grand turret entrance in New York and built-in glass elevator in Arizona
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nordstrom family, investor to take retail chain private
Speed Read The business will be acquired by members of the family and El Puerto de Liverpool, a Mexican real estate company
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden commutes most federal death sentences
Speed Read The president downgraded the punishment of 37 of 40 prisoners on death row to life in prison without parole
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Putin says Russia isn't weakened by Syria setback
Speed Read Russia had been one of the key backers of Syria's ousted Assad regime
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Georgia DA Fani Willis removed from Trump case
Speed Read Willis had been prosecuting the election interference case against the president-elect
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Democrats blame 'President Musk' for looming shutdown
Speed Read The House of Representatives rejected a spending package that would've funding the government into 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump, Musk sink spending bill, teeing up shutdown
Speed Read House Republicans abandoned the bill at the behest of the two men
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Congress reaches spending deal to avert shutdown
Speed Read The bill would fund the government through March 14, 2025
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Luigi Mangione charged with murder, terrorism
Speed Read Magnione is accused of murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Ex-FBI informant pleads guilty to lying about Bidens
Speed Read Alexander Smirnov claimed that President Joe Biden and his son Hunter were involved in a bribery scheme with Ukrainian energy company Burisma
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
South Korea impeaches president, eyes charges
Speed Read Yoon Suk Yeol faces investigations on potential insurrection and abuse of power charges
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published