Merrill says Connecticut’s voting system is hack-proof, but state voters are vulnerable to foreign disinformation campaigns.
Russian hacking
Posted inPolitics
Merrill ‘shocked’ Congress has failed to act on election security
Robert Mueller warned last week that the Russians, and others, continue to meddle in U.S. elections. But Congress has done little to address the issue.
Posted inPolitics
Himes questions Mueller on Russian hacking and whom it helped
During hours of congressional hearings Robert Mueller said his investigation was no “witch hunt” and defended his probe from GOP attacks.
Posted inJustice
Himes: Mueller hearings may be ‘letdown’ to many
Rep. Jim Himes, who will question Robert Mueller Wednesday, says the former special counsel is ‘”a very careful person.”
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers join Congress’ outcry over Trump-Putin summit
WASHINGTON — Connecticut lawmakers on Monday added to the bipartisan outrage at President Donald Trump’s summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. During that summit in Helsinki, Trump refused to support the conclusion of U.S. intelligence agencies that Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election.
Posted inPolitics
Omnibus has millions to strengthen CT voting system against cyber attacks
WASHINGTON — The massive omnibus spending bill President Donald Trump has signed into law contains $380 million — including up to $5 million for Connecticut — to protect digital voting systems from cyberattacks. Connecticut was one of 21 states targeted by Russian hackers in the 2016 election cycle, but they failed to breach the state’s electoral system.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Stone tells congressional panel he was not involved in Russian hacking
WASHINGTON — Roger Stone, a longtime confidant of President Donald Trump, told the House Intelligence Committee Tuesday that he had no contact with Russian operatives during the 2016 presidential election. In a written opening statement, Norwalk native Stone said he viewed the panel’s investigation “as a political proceeding,” and dismissed allegations he colluded with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to release damaging, hacked emails from the Clinton campaign.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Blumenthal: Raid on Manafort home indicates ‘probable cause’ of criminality
WASHINGTON – Sen. Richard Blumenthal on Thursday said an FBI raid on New Britain native Paul Manafort’s home last month is an indication of criminal wrongdoing. Manafort is a key figure in the investigation into whether there are any ties between the Trump campaign and Russian attempts to influence the 2016 presidential elections.
Posted inPolitics
CT sought federal help to prevent Russian hacking of electoral system
WASHINGTON — A Department of Homeland Security official on Wednesday said 21 state electoral systems were targeted by the Russians for hacking. Although Connecticut’s system was not among them, the state asked for federal help in shoring up its cybersecurity defenses before last year’s election.
Posted inJustice, Politics
Comey: No regrets over Clinton emails, but he’d rather have been on the CT shore
WASHINGTON — FBI Director James Comey on Wednesday vigorously defended his handling of a probe into Hillary Clinton’s emails and deflected Sen. Richard Blumenthal’s questions about whether President Donald Trump was a target of an FBI investigation into Russian meddling in U.S. elections.
Posted inPolitics
Himes: Manafort, Stone likely witnesses in Congress’ Russia probe
WASHINGTON — Rep. Jim Himes on Monday said Connecticut natives Paul Manafort, a former Trump campaign manager, and Roger Stone, a self-described Trump campaign consultant, are likely to be key witnesses as the House Intelligence Committee continues its investigation of Russian hacking and the U.S. elections.
Posted inPolitics
CT lawmakers call for Sessions’ resignation
Updated at 5:30 p.m.
WASHINGTON — Connecticut Democratic lawmakers joined a growing chorus of their colleagues Thursday calling for the resignation of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, citing his testimony under oath denying he had contacts with Russian officials during the presidential campaign.