Reed: Russian Hack Will Impact Trump Policy Unless Questions Answered

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., said President-elect Donald Trump's foreign policy will always be impacted until questions about Russia's interference in the U.S. presidential election are answered.

"I think the Trump administration should be interested in that because their foreign policy — particularly with respect to the Russians — will always be questioned unless there's definitive answers," Reed said Wednesday on CNN's "New Day."

He cautioned Russia's meddling cannot be treated as "business as usual."

"The Russian intrusion into our election is unprecedented," he said.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., has already said a select committee is not needed for an investigation into the Russian hacking. McConnell believes the Senate Intelligence committee should handle it.

But Reed told CNN the issue presents too many jurisdictional issues.

"This is not just the intelligence committee," he said. "It's the Homeland Security committee. They have responsibilities within the United States for the protection of cyber information.

"We've got the Justice Department, their activities. The FBI, their involvement in this investigation, notification. . . . All of that is beyond the role of the intelligence committee."

Earlier, Reed told Rhode Island Public Radio, the Russian hacking posed a serious threat to voter confidence in future elections.

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