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We read the whole report Republicans just released on the House Intel Committee's Russia investigation — here are the main points

Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee left out critical context from their report on the panel's Russia investigation.

  • Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released a report detailing their findings in the panel's Russia investigation.
  • The report makes several incomplete assertions that seek to distance President Donald Trump and his 2016 campaign from allegations of collusion with Moscow.
  • Republicans also made numerous suggestions to shore up the US's response to Russia's aggression, including ramping up cyber defenses and empowering state and local officials to secure critical election infrastructure.
  • They also suggested Congress repeal the Logan Act, a centuries-old law that some have speculated may be used to prosecute members of the Trump campaign.

Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday released a report detailing their findings in the panel's Russia investigation, and it makes several incomplete assertions that obscure facts.

It said Russia was responsible for carrying out cyberattacks against the US, disseminating hacked emails stolen from the Democratic National Committee, and launching a social media disinformation campaign — findings that largely echo parts of the US intelligence community's assessment of Russia's interference in the 2016 election.

But Republicans' conclusions about whether President Donald Trump's campaign colluded with Moscow left out critical context and painted an incomplete picture of the scope of the campaign's contacts with Russians.

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The committee recommended Europe and the US shore up their cyber defenses and lessen economic dependence on Russia to counter its aggression. It also suggested Congress take a larger role in addressing Russia's cyber activity and empower state and local authorities to secure election infrastructure.

Notably, Republicans also recommended Congress repeal the Logan Act, which makes it illegal for private citizens to conduct policy negotiations on behalf of the US.

Several of Trump's associates — including Michael Flynn, the former national security adviser — have been accused of violating the Logan Act.

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Flynn pleaded guilty in December to one count of making false statements to investigators about his conversations with Sergey Kislyak, then Russia's ambassador to the US. According to a court filing, a "very senior member" of the Trump transition team directed Flynn's interactions with Kislyak — a revelation that observers said could amount to a violation of the Logan Act.

The New York Times reported last year that some had suggested the Logan Act was moot based on a legal doctrine called desuetude, which stipulates that a law may become null and void if it goes without use for a long time. Only two people have been indicted under the Logan Act, and neither indictment resulted in a conviction.

Shortly after Republicans released their report, the ranking Democrat on the committee, Rep. Adam Schiff, responded in a tweet.

"Russian interference was successful because the beneficiary of their help has refused to condemn it," he said. "The lack of a serious investigation by the GOP is an invitation to the Russians to do it again."

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