H.R. 356 - Protecting Our Democracy Act

A few days ago this came across my Facebook feed. It's from Congressman Mike Doyle (I live in the legislative district he represents in the House):

The American People deserve an independent investigation into President Trump’s National Security Adviser Michael Flynn’s pre-inauguration phone calls with the Russian ambassador. General Flynn had to resign; he clearly had become a potential Russian blackmail target. It’s hard to believe, however, that he would discuss the future of US sanctions without authorization - so Americans still need to know what the President and Vice President knew, and when they knew it. Flynn’s resignation is not a substitute for answers, which is why I’ve cosponsored HR 356, a bill to create a bipartisan, independent commission to investigate the extent of the Russian government’s influence on the Trump White House and presidential campaign.

HR 356 was introduced by Representatives Eric Swalwell and Elijah Cummings and has been cosponsored by all the Democratic members of The House (including, of course, Rep. Mike Doyle)

The bill looks to establish a commission that will investigate "the Russian government, persons or entities associated with the Russian government, or persons or entities within Russia to use electronic means to influence, interfere with, or sow distrust in elections for public office held in the United States in 2016" by way of hacking, propaganda and so on.

The bill was introduced on January 6, 2017 - more than a month ago.

Now that Mike Flynn's resignation following reporting that he lied about his contacts with Russia after the election but before the inauguration, it's become all that more important to for there to be a bipartisan Congressional investigation into whatever Russian intelligence was doing before during and after the November elections.

The bill has been referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.  You may remember them, they plowed through piles of taxpayer money in a Benghazi! investigation.

Let's see if they have a similar level of outrage for Russian interference in an election that gave the little-handed pussy grabber the Oval Office.