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Yuri Gripas | Reuters
.S. Senate Select Intelligence Committee chairman Richard Burr (R-NC) (2nd R) and vice-chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) (2nd L) attend a hearing on ‘World Wide Threats’ on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 11, 2017.
Burr said the Senate investigation started with three goals: evaluating the intelligence community assessment, determining if campaigns colluded and looking into ongoing Russian efforts to influence elections. The scope of the probe has “expanded slightly” since then, he added.
“We hope we will very soon reach some definite conclusion,” Burr said, without setting a target deadline.
They also warned that Russia will keep trying to influence American elections.
Burr said Russian intelligence services are “determined” and “clever,” warning that campaigns and election officials should take the threat “very seriously.”
“We need to be on guard,” Warner added.
Warner said the investigators want to end the probe “as quickly as possible” but still “follow the facts.”
Warner said the senators remain focused on the role of social media in the election. This week, Facebook turned over more than 3,000 Russian-linked election ads to the committee.
Divisive Facebook ads believe to be linked to Russia targeted parts of the United States, including traditional battleground states, NBC News reported Wednesday.
The committee has invited representatives from Facebook, Google and Twitter to testify on Nov. 1, Burr said. He expects them to attend the hearing.
