WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today issued the following statement on House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) stepping aside from an investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Klobuchar previously called for Nunes to step down from the investigation.

“Foreign interference in our democracy cannot be tolerated. Back in early January, I called for an independent commission to get to the bottom of Russian interference in the recent election. I also called for Chairman Nunes to step down from the House investigation. Today’s announcement shows more than ever why we need an independent, nonpartisan commission. The American people deserve the facts, unfettered by politics.”

In early January, Klobuchar introduced legislation with four other senators to create an independent, nonpartisan commission to comprehensively investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election. Klobuchar was recently in Ukraine, the Baltic states, and Georgia to reinforce support for our Eastern European allies and to focus on mounting international cybersecurity threats. The bipartisan congressional delegation was led by Republican Senator John McCain from Arizona, the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and also included Klobuchar and Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina. In February, Klobuchar, the Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, led a group of 26 senators in calling for a full account of the Election Assistance Commission’s (EAC) efforts to address Russian cybersecurity threats.

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