[2018 Page on Election Security]
The release of the redacted Mueller report on April 18, 2019 again drew attention to the question of foreign interference including some political responses:


Democratic National Committee

Open Letter: Democratic Party Condemns Use of Stolen Information, Calls on GOP to do the Same


By Tom Perez

Apr 22, 2019

Dear Chairwoman McDaniel,

This weekend, Rudy Giuliani said there is “nothing wrong with taking information from Russians” and suggested that it is perfectly acceptable for campaigns to seek stolen information from foreign adversaries for political gain. This is an affront to our democracy that must be condemned by anyone who cares about our country’s future.

As the leaders of our country’s two largest political parties, we have a responsibility to protect the integrity of our democratic process. That’s why I urge you to join me in condemning the weaponization of stolen private data in our electoral process.

What happened in the 2016 election is undeniable. As the Mueller report just confirmed, a foreign adversary hacked and disseminated stolen information with the intention of disrupting our free and fair elections. Not only does the report plainly detail Russia’s assault on our democracy, it also describes a Trump campaign that gleefully sought to benefit from that attack.

As you know, President Trump himself openly called for Russia to steal and spread his opponent’s data.

These are not the actions of a candidate or a party that respects the rule of law or the integrity of our democracy.

We are now rapidly approaching Election Day 2020. In this age of cyber-warfare, we owe it to the American people to make sure that the election is decided by the will of the voters, not foreign governments.

My predecessor made this same request to the RNC as Russia’s attack on our election unfolded in 2016. Your predecessor chose to ignore it. The chair of our sister committee, the DCCC, made the same promise; their Republican counterpart at the NRCC also ignored it.

This time can be different. This is not about red and blue. This is about red, white, and blue. It’s about our national security. It’s about the future of our country and the integrity of our democracy. It’s about restoring people’s faith in our institutions and our election process.

Although you and I profoundly disagree on how our candidates should campaign and elected leaders should govern, we should at the very least work together to assure the American people that the process will be fair, and send a message to our adversaries that we will not tolerate the theft and dissemination of private data in our electoral process.

Under my leadership, the Democratic National Committee will not encourage the theft of private data, nor will we seek out or weaponize stolen private data for political gain. And I’m calling on you to put country above party and publicly pledge that the Republican National Committee will do the same.

The 2016 attacks weren’t the first attempt to undermine our democracy and they won’t be the last. Let’s make sure the loudest voice on Election Day is the voice of the American people.

Sincerely,

Tom Perez

Chair, Democratic National Committee
Gillibrand 2020
April 23, 2019

Gillibrand Launches First 2020 Pledge To Not Use Stolen Hacked Materials in Presidential Campaign

Gillibrand is first 2020 candidate to offer written pledge never to seek, accept or weaponize stolen or hacked information from foreign adversaries, like Russia

U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today released a first-of-its-kind cybersecurity pledge to not seek, use or weaponize stolen hacked materials in the 2020 presidential campaign, and urged her fellow 2020 candidates to agree to the pledge. 

After Russia’s interference in the 2016 elections, Gillibrand said that this pledge will send a strong signal to foreign adversaries who could seek to again intervene in our elections, that Democrats will not utilize or promote such stolen materials for political gain. This cybersecurity pledge comes on the heels of commentary from top President Trump aide, Rudy Giuliani, that there is "nothing wrong with taking information from Russians." 

“Russia is a foreign adversary of the United States, and we all must learn serious lessons from their cyber attack on our election systems in 2016. Russia will be back, and it is troubling that President Trump and his top aides are not only failing to hold them accountable but actually normalizing the idea of ‘taking information from Russians’ for political gain,” said Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

Gillibrand continued, "For my part, I vow that our campaign will not seek out stolen hacked information from foreign adversaries or knowingly weaponize such materials, and I urge my colleagues in the 2020 field to join in signing this pledge. Together we can send a clear message to those who seek to harm our democracy - at home and abroad."  

The Gillibrand for President 2020 campaign hereby pledges:

  • The Gillibrand campaign will not participate, aid, or encourage hackers or foreign actors in any attempt to influence American elections or the campaigns of their competitors
  • Gillibrand’s campaign will never seek out or accept stolen hacked information from foreign adversaries for use in any operations
  • The campaign will never knowingly weaponize or promote stolen hacked materials
  • Any foreign actors attempting to negatively influence, participate in, or contact the campaign will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement

The Gillibrand 2020 campaign recognizes that protecting our political institutions, elections and campaigns from foreign interference is critical to protecting America’s democracy. Elected leaders, particularly those who seek or hold the role of commander in chief, are responsible for sending a clear signal to foreign adversaries who might attack the United States or interfere with our elections in the future.

Gillibrand believes that this pledge will create a conversation to allow all of the presidential candidates, the DNC, and state parties to come up with a common strategy in the coming months. Gillibrand made clear that she is also open to discussion and negotiations about the language of this pledge, as long as the fundamental goals are addressed. 
 

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Democratic National Committee
April 24, 2019

DNC on Trump’s Refusal to Discuss Election Security

In response to reports that then-Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen was warned by Trump’s chief of staff not to bring up election security and prevented her from organizing high-level meetings because the president didn’t like to talk about it, DNC Deputy War Room Director Daniel Wessel released the following statement:

“For more than two years now, Trump has repeatedly denied Russia’s election interference, and now we’re seeing the real life consequences. It is deeply troubling, and a complete abdication of his duty to protect Americans, that our president can’t even bring himself to discuss election security, let alone do anything about it.”