Top Democrats want $300 million to fend off foreign ‘attack’ on 2018 elections

Funding request specifically warns about Russian online efforts

Voters wait in line at the San Diego County Registrar of Voters during the 2016 presidential election (REUTERS/Sandy Huffaker)

Top Democrats are asking for $300 million to counteract potential foreign interference in upcoming midterm elections.

“The most essential elements of America’s democracy are under attack by a foreign adversary and Congress must respond immediately,” top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a letter to their Republican counterparts.

Intelligence officials have concluded that the Russian government sponsored a wide-ranging campaign to disrupt the 2016 presidential election, and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats told Congress earlier this month that the offensive was likely to extend through 2018 balloting.

“Persistent and disruptive cyber operations will continue against the United States and our European allies using elections as opportunities to undermine democracy,” Mr Coats testified, adding that “Frankly, the United States is under attack”.

The letter from Democrats argues the FBI needs more resources to combat potential Russian incursions, spotlighting “Russian operatives operating on our social media platforms”.

Online activity by Russian agents figured centrally into an indictment of 13 Russian nationals released last week as part of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of Russian election meddling. The document alleged a sophisticated and years-long online effort to foment social strife and undermine Hillary Clinton using social media.

“Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s recent criminal indictment provides further evidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin and his operatives undertook significant covert activities to interfere in the 2016 U.S. elections,” the Democrats’ letter says.

Democratic leaders also argued that state and local governments need more resources to fortify their defences against hacking.

Officials have said that at least 21 states saw their elections systems targeted by hackers during the 2016 cycle, though they said there was not evidence that hackers successfully penetrated and altered state voter rolls.

The Russian government has denied targeting the 2016 election.