Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas The DCCC just spent $6 million against me this last campaign. But an attack on them is an attack on all of us" said Texas Congressman Will Hurd who has more reasons than most to resent the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
The group spent heavily in an unsuccessful attempt to end his congressional career during the 2016 election cycle.
The San Antonio Republican however said it should alarm all Americans that the Central Intelligence Agency has recently concluded that Russian operatives hacked into DCCC computers this summer with an eye toward meddling in the U.S. Presidential Election.
We cannot politicize this. We have to make sure that our country has the right digital defenses" said Hurd whose district is one of the largest in the United States stretching from western San Antonio to El Paso Countys Lower Valley.
Theres a lot we dont know about it at this point" Hurd says explaining that he wants to know more about why the CIA believes the Russians wanted to help Trump win.
And Hurd is particularly well-qualified to speak about the firestorm over Russian involvement in the American election. Before coming to Congress Hurd worked as an undercover agent in the CIA doing multiple stints oversees and he has a background in cybersecurity.
While Hurd says he hasnt read the latest CIA assessment of the motives behind alleged Russian meddling in the election he does believe its essential to conduct a thorough and evenhanded investigation.
Its also important to understand what the CIA didnt accuse the Russians of Hurd said.
This was an information operation by the Russian government. We have to be clear because some people are conflating a lot of issues" Hurd said alluding to the fact that most of the hacked information was embarrassing to Hillary Clinton.
I think the CIA is filled with smart thoughtful people who are working hard" Hurd says. Theyre still working as if its Sept. 12 2001. Intelligence is an imperfect game and theyre working hard to collect information to inform policymakers."
Republican and Democratic leaders of the U.S. Senate on Monday said that chambers Intelligence Committee would conduct an investigation. There are also calls for a joint House-Senate committee to perform its own probe and release its findings to the public.
Its unclear whether Hurd would play a role though he does serve as chairman of the Information & Technology Subcommittee of the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee.
