President Donald Trump's pick to lead the U.S. intelligence community cited Russia as a top threat, telling lawmakers Tuesday it is an accepted fact that Moscow tried to influence November's presidential election.
Former Indiana Senator Dan Coats told the Senate Intelligence Committee that Russia “seems to have stepped up their game” in its campaign to influence the American elections. He promised to support a thorough investigation of the Kremlin's role in the U.S. vote.
“It is something that needs to be investigated and addressed,” the 73-year-old Coats, a Republican, said during his confirmation hearing. “I think it is publicly known and acknowledged and accepted that Russia definitely did try to influence the campaign,” Coats said. “To what extent they were successful, I don't think we know.”
Coats also promised that, if confirmed, he would make all relevant materials available for congressional investigations.