Arizona's Congressional Delegation Weighs In On Russia Involvement

Published: Monday, December 12, 2016 - 5:58pm
Updated: Tuesday, December 13, 2016 - 12:38pm

Arizona’s congressional contingent is weighing in on the war of words developing between the president-elect and the CIA over whether Russia interfered in the presidential elections.

Over the weekend, Arizona Sen. John McCain joined a bipartisan group of U.S. senators in expressing their concerns and calling for an investigation in to the Kremlin’s involvement following a CIA assessment that the Russian government may have helped sway the election to Donald Trump.

The president-elect has called the assertion “ridiculous.”

But Rep. Martha McSally, a Republican from Tucson, recently said she believes Russia has been antagonistic.

“Russia has shown itself to be bellicose, invading its neighbors, conducting state-sponsored cyber attacks, destabilizing the Middle East," McSally said.

McSally, a former Air Force colonel who did tours overseas, adds she believes Russia has “its own interests” in mind, should not be treated as an ally, and that Congress — as well the president and the intelligence agencies, must all have a voice in Russia policy issues.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect that Rep. Martha McSally made these comments recently, but they were not connected to Sen. John McCain's call for an investigation. McSally has not yet responded directly to statements made by intelligence officials.