Rep: Russian hackers probing for weaknesses
Rep. Adam Schiff of California, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, predicts Russian hackers will continue cyberattacks on the U.S. election process unless they’re confronted — days after a report that hackers are probing voter registration systems.
“I think the Russians respect one thing and that’s strength — if they see an open door, that’s an invitation to do more. And I think we need to begin naming and shaming them, and work with our allies around the world who also have been hacked and interfered with by the Russians,” Schiff said on ABC’s “This Week.”
Schiff said he has no doubt that the Russians are behind the hacking and he thinks the Obama administration knows it.
He said he doesn’t believe the Russians can manipulate vote results with the cyberattacks but said they could create doubts by meddling with voter registration databases or doctoring emails.
“The fact is that Americans already see the meddling. And I think it would be far worse if there is a problem with the election, and only after the election does the administration tell the American people — yes, the Russians were doing this and we knew it all along,” Schiff said.
The White House has refused to say who is behind the attacks. Former White House counterterrorism adviser Richard Clarke told ABC that accusing Russia could lead to calls for U.S. retaliation and the White House is afraid of starting a cyberwar.
Politico reported Friday that a Department of Homeland Security official — speaking on background — said hackers are constantly testing every state’s public-facing election systems. In at least 20 states, DHS found what it calls “probing of concern.”