Role of cyber hacking in presidential election to be investigated

World Today

President-elect Donald Trump speaks to supporters during a rally, in Grand Rapids, Mich. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

The White House says it supports an investigation by Congress into the role that Russia played in the U.S. presidential election.

President-elect Donald Trump has said the recent CIA assertion that Russian hacking had sought to help his candidacy was “ridiculous.”

House Speaker Paul Ryan says the House Intelligence Committee will look into cyber threats such as hacking by Russia of the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

But the Wisconsin Republican says any investigation “should not cast doubt on the clear and decisive outcome of this election.” He also chided those who would exploit the work of the U.S. intelligence community for “partisan purposes.”

Ryan’s statement came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also called for a continuing probe into charges that the Russian government hacked into the DNC and Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman John Podesta’s email account.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell strongly condemned any foreign meddling to influence the U.S. election. McConnell said that the “Russians are not our friends” and condemned Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee and other “U.S. political organizations.”

White House spokesman Josh Earnest says that one of the goals of an intelligence review ordered by President Barack Obama is to compile information that can be presented to Congress.

Earnest says the congressional review “is certainly warranted when you consider the stakes and the consequences.” The White House spokesman also praised intelligence officials, saying the men and women in the intelligence community are “patriots” and that the president has benefited enormously from their expertise.

This story is by The Associated Press.