‘Active threats’ of hacks loom over 2020 election

WASHINGTON — The Trump administration outlined “active threats” to U.S. elections as it briefed Congress on Wednesday on steps the government has taken to improve election security in the wake of Russian interference in 2016.

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, FBI Director Christopher Wray and other officials “made it clear there are active threats and they’re doing everything they can” to stop them, said Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-mich. Dingell called the closed-door presentation “very impressive” and said the issue was “one we all need to take seriously.”

House Minority Whip Steve Scalise, R-LA., said it reinforced the importance of remaining vigilant against outside threats to U.S. elections.

The session demonstrated that federal agencies “continue to learn from the mistakes of the 2016 election, when the (Obama) administration was flat-footed in their response” to Russian interference, Scalise said.

Special counsel Robert Mueller laid out details of Russian interference in the 2016 election, and lawmakers from both parties have warned that the Russians are likely to try to interfere again in 2020.

Democrats say Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mcconnell, R-KY., has blocked bipartisan bills to address election security, and they pressed for the briefing as a way to force his hand.

But Mcconnell said he welcomed the briefing. The “smooth and secure execution” of the 2018 midterm elections “was not a coincidence” and showed the success of measures the administration has taken, he said.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said the classified briefing was important but “by no means sufficient.”

Congress must “debate and adopt measures to protect our democracy and preserve the sanctity of elections,” Schumer said. He accused Mcconnell of doing “nothing when it comes to one of the greatest threats to our democracy: that a foreign power would reach in and interfere (with U.S. elections).”

The bill would require paper ballots in federal elections and authorize $775 million in grants over the next two years to help states secure their voting systems. It also would prohibit voting systems from being connected to the internet or wireless technologies and tighten standards for private companies that provide election infrastructure.