Senator Collins’ Statement on Reports that Trump Administration Sought to Enlist Intelligence Officials, Members of Congress to Counter Allegations About Russian Ties

Washington, D.C. —U.S. Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued the following statement in response to reports suggesting that the Trump Administration sought to enlist Intelligence officials and Members of Congress to counter stories about President Trump’s ties to Russia:

"The Senate Intelligence Committee has the expertise, the cleared staff, and the bipartisan determination to follow the evidence wherever it leads in this investigation into malicious Russian activities. For the public to have confidence in our findings, it is important that the Committee work in a completely bipartisan fashion and that we avoid any actions that might be perceived as compromising the integrity of our work. It is also important that the Committee ultimately issue a public report on our findings."