Russia's efforts to influence elections may extend beyond the United States to France and Germany, according to the Senate Intelligence Committee.
"I think it's safe by everybody's judgment that the Russians are actively involved in the French elections," said North Carolina Sen. Richard Burr, the committee's chairman, in a statement, according to IB Times.
Burr and vice-chairman Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia made the statement in a March 29 press conference. They announced a probe into links between Russia and President Donald Trump during the 2016 election, and said around 20 people will be interviewed, including Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
Russia seeks to be a "balance disrupter" and weaken the position of the U.S., Burr and Warner said.
"We feel part of our responsibility is to educate the rest of the world about what is going on because it is now into character assassination of candidates," Burr said.
"Russia's goal, Vladimir Putin's goal, is a weaker United States," Burr said in the press conference, according to The New York Times.