"The [Senate Intelligence] Committee will, therefore, conduct a bipartisan inquiry of the intelligence reporting behind the Intelligence Community assessments from January 6, 2017 on this subject [of Russian interference in elections]," the release stated on Friday.
The Senate committee, the release added, will also subpoena senior officials from the outgoing and incoming US presidential administrations if required as part of a probe.
On January 6, the US Intelligence Community released a report saying it has "high confidence" in Russia’s meddling in the 2016 presidential election. President-elect Donald Trump after getting briefed by the intelligence officials said cyberattacks had zero impact on the outcome of the election.
The report did not offer proof for the claims that Russia attempted to hack and influence the US election process, but made the claims anyway.
Russia has repeatedly denied the US allegations calling them absurd and characterizing them as an attempt to divert public opinion from revelations of corruption as well as other pressing domestic issues.
Trump's pick for Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said at his confirmation hearing on Wednesday that the US intelligence assessment regarding the Russian alleged cyberattacks "clearly is troubling." However, he believes that Russia and the United States should engage in an open and frank dialogue to repair bilateral relations.
