Senate GOP Leader Says Congress Will Investigate Russia Election Interference

— -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell condemned foreign interference in the U.S. presidential election as "disturbing," saying congressional committees will investigate the allegations. But he does not believe special panels are necessary to do so.

Speaking to reporters at an end-of-the-year press conference, McConnell (R-KY) indicated that he'd like the regular Senate committees to lead an investigation into Russia's possible involvement in the election, seeming to reject bipartisan calls for a new special committee to be formed to investigate.

He said he intends to "follow the regular order," which is considered Capitol Hill-speak for letting the established committees, like Intelligence and Armed Services, lead hearings or investigations. He said the Intelligence Committee is "more than capable of conducting a complete review of this matter.”

Over the weekend, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that he would like to see a select committee formed with the sole mission of investigating Russia’s actions in the U.S. McCain also joined Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Jack Reed (D-RI) in a statement calling for Democrats and Republicans to work together and across committees to examine Russia’s recent actions.

But after McConnell’s press conference Monday, Schumer released a statement saying he supported his participation.

"We welcome Leader McConnell’s support for a deep and thorough bipartisan investigation into reports that Russia interfered with the 2016 election," Schumer’s statement read in part. "This issue should not and must not turn into a political football."

Following reports over the weekend that the CIA believes Russia did actively seek to help Donald Trump get elected, McConnell would not comment on that allegation specifically, but did say he has the "highest confidence" in the intelligence community and the CIA.

McConnell pointed to a statement from the U.S. intelligence community, released in October, which publicly accused Russia of interfering in the 2016 election, but would not go further.

"That is what the intelligence community believes can be said in unclassified remarks," McConnell said. "Anything else is irresponsible, likely illegal, and potentially for partisan political gain."