Top Democratic senator...: 'This may very well be the most important thing I do in my public life' [View all]

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http://www.businessinsider.com/mark-warner-trump-russia-investigation-most-important-thing-2017-2

Top Democratic senator on Russia investigation: 'This may very well be the most important thing I do in my public life'

Eliza Relman
Feb. 24, 2017, 5:04 PM 88,223


After viewing classified materials as part of the Senate Intelligence Committee's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, Democratic Sen. Mark Warner told The New Yorker that he came away with a conclusion: The investigation "may very well be the most important thing I do in my public life.”

The Senate committee launched its inquiry after intelligence agencies determined that Russia was involved in hacking the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's campaign in an effort to aid Trump's bid for the presidency.

Fearing the Trump administration would suppress information concerning the investigation, Warner — the ranking member on the committee — and six other of its members sent a public letter to President Barack Obama three weeks after the election requesting he declassify "additional information concerning the Russian Government and the US election."

"My increasing concern is that classification now is being used much more for political security than for national security. We wanted to get that out before a new administration took place," Sen. Ron Wyden, who also sits on the Intelligence Committee and signed on to the request for declassification, told The New Yorker. "I can’t remember seven senators joining a declassification request."

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In an interview this week with Business Insider, Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said that Republicans in Congress have begun to take the accusations more seriously.

"I think it's all converging to a point where people are collectively holding their breath and we will see what is the next shoe to drop," Whitehouse said. "My personal observation is that there is very little goodwill for this man with Republicans in the Senate."