U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop calls for congressional investigation of Russian influence

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, is calling for a congressional investigation of Russian influence on “key institutions” in the United States in the wake of National Security Adviser Michael Flynn’s resignation Monday.

Bishop, a former member of the House Intelligence Committee, said he was “extremely troubled by the revelations surrounding former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn’s conversations with the Russian ambassador. In addition to misleading his own superiors, he misled the American people regarding key elements of these conversations.”

According to media reports, on Monday President Trump asked for and received the resignation of Flynn, who Trump defended Wednesday as “a wonderful man.”

Flynn resigned after it became public that he had misled Vice President Mike Pence in conversations he had before moving into the White House regarding sanctions on Russia with Sergey Kislyak, the Kremlin’s man in Washington, media reports said. Flynn’s security clearance on Wednesday was revoked pending review.

“I was particularly disturbed that the U.S. Department of Justice had warned the new administration weeks ago of Michael Flynn’s misleading statements and his potential vulnerability to Russian blackmail, and that no action was taken by the administration prior to his resignation Monday night,” Bishop said.

The congressman said an independent congressional probe is needed.

“Russian influence on our top security apparatus creates a clear and present danger to the American people,” Bishop said. “Congress must launch an independent, bipartisan, and bicameral investigation into the extent of Russian efforts to undermine and influence our key institutions, as well as to undermine our national security.”