Reports of Russian hackers attempting to influence the election have some members of the electoral college rethinking their votes. At least one is paying a price for it, receiving hate mail and threats. But he says the anger of his fellow Americans will not deter him from putting principle over party. Here's ABC's David Wright. I like that Putin called me brilliant. Reporter: From Russia with love. Or at least with strong admiration. I think it's great of russif Russia and the United States can get together. Reporter: Donald Trump has said he'd like to improve U.S. Relations with Moscow. Wouldn't it be great if we got along with Russia? Is that a bad thing? Reporter: All the more alarming then that 17 U.S. Intelligence agencies say Russia tried to interfere in the pleakz. Tonight as the Russian president arrived in Japan, his spokesperson laughed off any suggestion that Vladimir Putin personally ordered the effort to hack the U.S. Campaign. But U.S. Intelligence officials say they're convinced he did. For something to be proved at the highest levels of the Russian government, something of this importance, that would require the personal approval of the president. Reporter: And tonight, president Obama seemed to agree upon. When anying fr foreign government tries to impact the integrity of our leakedz, we need to take action, and we will, at a time and place of our own choosing. Reporter: The very idea of Russian hackers Mettling in a U.S. Presidential election, sounds like the plot of a cold war political thriller. He's the kindest, bravest, most wonderful human being I've ever met in my life. Reporter: "The manchurian candidate" updated for the digital age. Kindest, bravest, warmest, human being I've ever known. Reporter: But as far-fetched as it sounds, that notion is giving members of the electoral college second thoughts. This week, they signed a letter requesting an intelligence briefing before they cast their votes Monday. I'm one of them. I sign onto that letter. I'm concerned when a foreign government interferes with our elections, they're not doing it with our best interest in mind. Reporter: Trump critics are jumping on the bandwagon, trying to sway the electoral college. Republican members of the electoral college, this message is for you. Reporter: Today a group of famous actors, including some veterans of "The west wing," released this video appeal. As you know, the constitution gives electors the right to vote for any eligible person. No matter which party they belong to. Reporter: The actors insist the founding fathers intend the electoral college to safeguard against an unwise choice. By voting your conscience, you can give the house of representatives the option to select a qualified candidate. The trump camp is outraged. Just today he tweeted, if Russia or some other entity was hacking, why did the white house wait so long to hack? Why did they only complain after Hillary lost? Of course that's misleading, the complaints have been around for months. It even came up in the debates where trump denied being Putin's puppet. No puppet, no puppet. You're the puppet. Reporter: To get some definitive answers on what the electoral college and how it's supposed to work, we've come to nps ha Independence hall and the constitutional center. It's a non-partisan center, devoted to informing Americans about the rules that sevrve as the foundation of our democracy. Jeff Rosen is its president. These are the founding fathers. Here it is. This is the constitutional convention. And this is the only place in America where you can find statues of the framers that look exactly like the real guys. Rosen says it's true. Alexander Hamilton did intend the electoral college to be a sort of protection against mob rule. What would these guys make of the Hamilton electors, the faithless electors, who are planning to switch their votes? Sohamilton thought that the electors could exercise independent judgment and would be an elite check on the passions of the mob. Reporter: He said Hamilton lost out to James Madison. After the election of 1800, Madison founds the first political party, the democratic Republican party, and pretty soon it's the political parties and not the independent electors who are actually picking the president. So the electoral college after that is just a vestige of this original system? Exactly. That's a good way to put it. Is there anything in the rules that says how the electors should cast their votes? There is stuff in state rules that say how electors should cast their vote. This elector from Washington state co-founded a rogue effort called the Hamilton electors. He's trying to get all 538 electors behind a unity Republican candidate that isn't Donald Trump. What Alexander Hamilton outlined about the electoral college was the fact that they were a last line of defense Ganes an unfit president. Reporter: This week, they went to court, challenging a state law that obliges them to vote for the winner of the general election or face a fine. We strongly believe that's an unconstitutional law, and we want to prevent the state government from being able to impose that fine. Reporter: But even with that law still in place, he says he's willing to risk the thousand dollar fine, in order to vote his conscience. We believe Donald Trump is clearly unfit for office. And we want to encourage and want any Republican electors and democratic electors who want to make that choice as well. Reporter: Other electors say they've been bombarded with pleas to go rogue. One Iowa elector said he's had more than 100,000 calls, letters, or e-mails urging him to do it. Texas elector Chris soup rein said after he wrote announcing his plans not to vote for trump, he's gotten lots of positive feedback. You are an inspiration. Love trump's hate. And a few death threats. The worst thing I've received in the mail is a threat to rape my wife and daughters before they kill me, if I do not vote for Mr. Trump. Reporter: He said he supported trump during the election, but is now convinced trump is unfit to serve as commander in chief. I saw someone who was more interested in his own power than he was in our institutions. I had to look at, is he constitutionally fit for the office I am expected to vote for him on. Reporter: It's unclear in the end how many electors will go rogue. Today the A.P. Informally polled the electoral college members and found only one of them plans to do it for sure. But especially this year, we know the polls can sometimes be wrong. Brett shifalo of the Hamilton electors insists the number is much higher. I believe between 50 and 75 Republican electors have deep, grave, concerns about Donald Trump. Reporter: True, Hillary Clinton won the popular vote, but for better or worse, that wasn't the contest, was it? The electoral college vote, the one that takes place Monday, isn't a scene from "Hamilton." ??? ??? it It's not even a scene from the west wing. I've got a meeting on the hill. You go get them, Mr. President. You have the opportunity to go down in the books as an American hero. Who changed the course of history.