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Sen. Nelson Promises Russia Hacking Investigation

Sen. Bill Nelson speaks to reporters.
Sarah Mueller
/
WFSU
Sen. Bill Nelson speaks to reporters.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson discussed the controversy over last month's election and the next administration.

The Florida Democrat said Congress will launch an extensive and bipartisan investigation into Russia’s interference in the 20-16 election. A CIA assessment says hackers stole emails from the Democratic National Committee to help elect Donald Trump.

Sen. Bill Nelson speaks to reporters.
Credit Sarah Mueller
/
WFSU
Sen. Bill Nelson speaks to reporters.

Nelson said President Barack Obama should have released more information during the election.

“Not only the Russian influence, but the specific involvement of Putin and trying to tip the scales for one candidate against the other," he said. "That they did not bring that out was a huge mistake on the part of the Obama White House.”

Nelson is the ranking member of the Senate’s Armed Services Committee.

Trump has dismissed that allegation without offering supporting evidence.​

Nelson also said he’s concerned with the pick of Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson because of his ties to Russia and the company’s ongoing contracts with that country.

“What would that do to affect his ability to impartially represent the U.S. in arguably the most important position in the cabinet,” he said.

Nelson praised Trump’s choice of General James Mattis for Secretary of Defense, calling it “brilliant.”

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Sarah Mueller is the first recipient of the WFSU Media Capitol Reporting Fellowship. She’ll be covering the 2017 Florida legislative session and recently earned her master’s degree in Public Affairs Reporting at the University of Illinois Springfield. Sarah was part of the Illinois Statehouse press corps as an intern for NPR Illinois in 2016. When not working, she enjoys playing her yellow lab, watching documentaries and reading memoirs.