US Lawmaker Asks for Classified Briefing on Alleged Russian Hacking on January 4

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Members of the House of Representatives should receive a classified briefing on alleged Russian interference in the US presidential election on the first working day in 2017, Sherman said in a letter to President Barack Obama released Tuesday.

"It would be most beneficial for this briefing to take place immediately after the 115 Congress enters office. I suggest the first full session day of the 115 Congress, January 4, 2017," the letter stated.

The briefing should provide an update on methodologies of alleged Russian hackers, level of coordination in the Russian government regarding the attacks and prospective targets of potential cyberattacks, according to the letter.

In the wake of assertions by heads of key US intelligence agencies that Russia engaged in hacking computers of US political institutions to help Donald Trump win the presidency, Obama said in a news conference last week that the cyberattacks were likely initiated "at the highest levels of the Russian government."

Moscow has repeatedly denied Washington’s claims of election-meddling, characterizing them as absurd and an attempt to distract Americans from domestic issues.