McConnell agreeing to open up the security issue about elections…per Sen Schumer today.
Schumer, speaking from the Senate floor, indicated that the Senate GOP leader had agreed to his weeks-long call for all senators to receive a briefing in the wake of special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
“I have some positive news. I have spoken to the Republican leader about that request. He has assured me we will have a briefing,” Schumer said.
He added that he and McConnell were still ironing out the timing of when the Senate briefing would take place but urged the GOP leader to hold it within weeks — before the Senate’s current work period runs out at the end of June.
The closed-door briefing comes as senators have mounted a bipartisan push in the wake of
Mueller’s report to try to move election security through the Senate, but have run into high-profile opposition from McConnell and Senate Rules Committee Chairman Roy Blunt (R-Mo.).
Supporters argue that new legislation is needed to help bolster election infrastructure in the wake of Russia’s actions, and as lawmakers debate how to safeguard the 2020 White House and congressional elections.
Schumer argued on Monday that the closed-door briefing needed to take place in June to give lawmakers enough time to clear legislation at least a year before the 2020 election.
“The Senate should be briefed by our intelligence and law enforcement chiefs about the threat of election interference in the 2020 election so we can all be aware of the danger that FBI Director [Christopher] Wray has already pointed out,” Schumer said.
He added that he hoped the briefing would make lawmakers "see the danger and act.
