Press Releases
06/18/2019
ATTORNEY GENERAL TONG ASKS CONGRESS TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT INTEGRITY OF AMERICA’S ELECTIONS
Joins other AGs in asking for grants, security standards, and bipartisan election-security legislation to address “persistent threats to our election systems”
(Hartford, CT) — In expressing his “significant concern regarding the persistent threats to our election systems,” Attorney General Tong today joined a total 22 attorneys general from around the country to ask Congress to take action to protect the integrity of America’s elections.
In a letter led by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison and addressed to key U.S. Senators, Attorney General Tong and the other attorneys general ask Congress to provide additional election security grants to states and localities, support the establishment of cybersecurity and audit standards for election systems, and pass bipartisan election-security legislation.
"It is now undeniable that Russia attempted to hack our election systems in 2016—including an unsuccessful attempt to access our systems here in Connecticut. This is a grave, ongoing threat to our democracy and our federal government is not doing nearly enough to support states like Connecticut investing in critical election security infrastructure and safety measures," said Attorney General William Tong.
“The Russian government targeted our elections in 2016 and the threat of further foreign interference is real, serious, and current,” said Secretary Merrill. “Secretaries of State and Attorneys General from across the country have consistently called on the federal government with one voice to act to prevent cyberthreats in the 2020 election before it is too late. Our democracy can’t afford more gridlock and inaction from Congress.”
The attorneys general note warnings that “our election systems have been a target for foreign adversaries and that those same adversaries are currently working to undermine the upcoming elections.” Their letter follows confirmed reports that Russia successfully breached election systems in Florida, installed malware on a voting-systems software company used by North Carolina, and targeted the election systems of all 50 states in 2016.
Joining Attorney General Tong in the letter are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. Today’s letter follows up on a similar letter that attorneys general from 21 states sent to Congress in July 2018.
Click here to access a copy of the letter.
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