In Case You Missed It: Republicans Denounce Russian Cyber Attack on DNC & DCCC
Will the NRCC Stop Aiding Russian Efforts to Influence American Elections?
The recent cyber intrusions into the DNC, the DCCC and other political organizations—and the ongoing public release of documents stolen by the hackers—is deeply troubling. This is exacerbated by the fact that respected cybersecurity experts unanimously have attributed these malicious activities to the Russian government.
This week, the NRCC stooped to a new low when it actually used documents stolen by the Russian hackers in an upcoming political race in Florida. These Russian actors are known to alter stolen documents and manufacture fake materials, but whether or not these documents are authentic—the use of them to try to influence a House race in Florida is shocking.
Many Republicans have started to take a stand up to the attacks by the Russians, and against any further use or amplification of these documents.
On Thursday, in the Lebanon Daily News, the campaign of Republican Congressman Ryan Costello vowed to never use documents or information stolen by these or any hackers:
“We are deeply concerned about cyber attacks by a foreign entity in an attempt to influence the outcome of American elections,” campaign manager Vince Galko said in an emailed response. “We will not use information contained in the hacking as an opportunity to attack our opponent, Mike Parrish.”
Also on Thursday, RNC Chairman Reince Preibus made clear to Fox News Radio that these Russian attacks should not be a partisan concern:
“I am not happy about what happened to the DNC or to those other groups, it’s not right and obviously I am not cheering for folk’s to be stealing private information from American entities and I am not on board with whatever they did to steal this information. It’s not good.”
Will the NRCC take the only appropriate and patriotic step that exists, and immediately confirm that they will never utilize Russian-provided documents to influence races in the future?