Van Hollen Joins Reverend Warnock in Calling for Investigation into Russian-linked Election Day Bomb Threats in Georgia, Across the Country

This week, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) joined Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) and eight lawmakers in calling on several federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies to investigate bomb threats from Russian email domains at multiple polling locations on Election Day and provide proposals to prevent it from happening in the future. At least 67 polling locations in 19 counties across the country, in Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, received threats on Election Day, with many shutting down temporarily. This included 13 polling locations in Georgia that temporarily closed following hoax bomb threats. Many were located in majority-Black precincts in the metro Atlanta area. Notably, Senator Warnock highlighted in his letter how foreign interference is heightened from previous years, which focused around spreading misinformation on social media channels. The Senator’s letter also called for federal officials to provide a classified briefing to Senators examining the facts behind the Election Day bomb threats.

“The right to vote is a sacred cornerstone of our democracy. It is unacceptable that any foreign actor interferes, or attempts to interfere, with this right…” wrote the lawmakers. “Online disinformation intended to sow doubt about election integrity is alarming enough. That foreign actors would take direct steps to shut down polling locations on Election Day is a new and deeply concerning escalation, and it must not stand. No voter should ever be turned away from a polling booth because a foreign actor falsely reported a bomb threat. A failure to respond to these egregious actions will only embolden foreign actors and invite more severe activity in future elections.”

Senator Warnock secured support from Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Peter Welch (D-Vt.). Senator Warnock is a champion for safeguarding our democracy in the United States Senate, leading multiple efforts to protect our democracy from interference from bad actors. The Freedom to Vote Act, landmark legislation led by Senator Warnock, includes additional funding to keep voters and election workers safe. The Senator has previously pushed the Department of Homeland Security to prioritize election security funding and keep election workers safe.

A copy of the letter can be found HERE and text can be read below:

Dear Director Haines, Director Easterly, and Director Wray,

Following reports of foreign interference in the 2024 elections, we ask that your agencies investigate the extent of this malicious interference and provide recommendations on how to prevent such interference from occurring in future elections.

The right to vote is a sacred cornerstone of our democracy. It is unacceptable that any foreign actor interferes, or attempts to interfere, with this right. In the weeks preceding the November 5, 2024 elections, numerous U.S. officials documented efforts by foreign actors to spread misinformation and disinformation through online channels to undermine faith in the democratic process. Foreign actors also attempted to target and hack both Presidential campaigns.

On Election Day itself, those foreign actors escalated.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, polling locations in states across the country received false bomb threats from foreign e-mail domains. Thankfully, these apparent efforts to shut down polling locations largely failed. However, at least 67 polling locations in 19 counties across the country, in Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, received threats that day, with many shutting down temporarily. This includes 13 polling locations in Georgia that temporarily closed following hoax bomb threats. Many were located in majority- Black precincts in the metro Atlanta area.

While we do not question the final outcome of the election, any foreign interference in our elections is an attack on the foundations of our republic. That is particularly true of efforts to directly prevent eligible Americans from casting a ballot.

Online disinformation intended to sow doubt about election integrity is alarming enough. That foreign actors would take direct steps to shut down polling locations on Election Day is a new and deeply concerning escalation, and it must not stand. No voter should ever be turned away from a polling booth because a foreign actor falsely reported a bomb threat. A failure to respond to these egregious actions will only embolden foreign actors and invite more severe activity in future elections.

In light of these events, and pursuant to requirements under 50 U.S.C. § 3371c, we request that your agencies investigate the extent of this malicious interference, particularly as it pertains to interference with the operations of polling locations, and provide recommendations on how to prevent such interference from occurring in future elections. In addition, we ask that you brief us in writing and in person on your investigation by January 10, 2025.

Thank you for your attention to this issue of critical importance.

Sincerely,