Week ahead: Obama DHS chief to testify on Russian meddling – The Hill

The House Intelligence Committee will press forward with its probe into Russian election interference, after weeks of the spotlight being on the parallel Senate investigation.

On Wednesday, the panel willconvenean open hearing with Jeh Johnson, who led the Department of Homeland Security under the Obama administration. Johnson has already met with Senate investigators in their probe.

It was Johnson who, just weeks before former President Barack ObamaBarack ObamaWeek ahead: Obama DHS chief to testify on Russian meddling Week ahead: Ryan to give 'major' tax reform speech | Panel takes up flood insurance bill | Trump trade rep heads before Congress Pro-Trump groups take Obama out of context in Georgia election ad MORE left office, announced that the government was designating election infrastructure as "critical"--opening up polling places, vote tabulation locations, and technology used in elections to federal protections.

Russia's targeting of elements of voting infrastructure has attracted renewed attention following The Intercept's recentpublicationof classified NSA report detailing such efforts. Bloombergreportedon Tuesdaythat Russian hackers targeted voting systems in 39 states.

The House investigation has received little attention since the May 23 hearing during which former CIA director John Brennan, another Obama-era official,saidthat he had viewed intelligence showing contacts between associates of the Trump campaign and Moscow that concerned him.

AlsoWednesday, the Senate Intelligence Committee willholdits own hearing on future U.S. election security, soliciting input from officials at DHS and the FBI, as well as individuals outside of the federal government--including an official with the Illinois State Board of Elections. Illinois officialsrevealedlast year that the state's voter database had been targeted by a cyberattack.

The hearing is also part of the panel's investigation into Russian election interference efforts.

The ongoing federal probe--led by special counsel Robert Mueller--has reportedlywidenedto include the possibility of obstruction of justice, following ousted FBI director James Comey's testimony that President Trump directed him to drop the investigation into former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee willexamine "cybersecurity regulation harmonization"on Wednesdayfeaturing outside government efforts and a chief information officer with the government of Oklahoma.

On Thursday, lawmakers will host the first bipartisan Capitol Hill national security forum, an all-day event focusing on homeland security, intelligence, the military, and cybersecurity.

The event will feature a discussion with DHS chief John Kelly and is hosted by Reps. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) and Dutch Ruppersberger (D-Md.) along with Sens. Marco RubioMarco RubioWeek ahead: Obama DHS chief to testify on Russian meddling THE MEMO: For Trump, danger signs in the polls Trump retweets supporters Diamond and Silk on Russia probe MORE (R-Fla.) and Chris CoonsChris CoonsWeek ahead: Obama DHS chief to testify on Russian meddling Dem: Trump wrong, Salem witch trials 'greatest witch hunt in American history' When can law enforcement access data stored abroad? Only Congress can tell MORE (D-Del.).

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Week ahead: Obama DHS chief to testify on Russian meddling - The Hill

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