Does your lawmaker agree with Trump on Russia?

WASHINGTON -- Greater Cincinnati’s virtually all-Republican delegation will be key to whether President-elect Donald Trump can get his agenda through the GOP-controlled Congress.

Because of that, The Enquirer’s Deirdre Shesgreen will be regularly checking with the delegation to see where they stand on Trump’s statements,behavior and policies.  Here's the first installment: 

Q: Do you accept the intelligence community’s assessment that the Russians were behind the email hacking and that they tried to tilt the election to Trump?

Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Westwood: "Based on everything I have read and heard, it seems likely to me that the Russians were behind the hacked emails, and that they were trying to interfere with our election.  But, it is much less clear that their misbehavior affected the outcome of the election."

Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Columbia Tusculum: “I have no doubt in my mind that Russia and China and Iran … (try) to hack the United States of America every chance they can.” Wenstrup, who sits on the House intelligence committee, said it’s a “shame” that the intelligence community did not also address cyberattacks by other countries. Pressed on whether he accepts the U.S. intelligence agencies' conclusion that Russian President Vladimir Putin directed the hacking of Democratic emails, he said: “I don’t know for sure that he did.”

Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Troy: “All I’ve seen is what’s in the public domain. I haven’t drawn any conclusion. I haven’t seen the evidence.” Davidson did not mention the declassified public report, issued on Jan. 6, by the Director of National Intelligence.

Rep. Massie, R-Garrison: Did not directly answer.

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio: Via a spokesperson: "Senator Portman believes we must hold Russia accountable for its extensive disinformation and propaganda campaigns against the United States and our allies."

Sen. Brown Brown, D-Ohio: "There is no question that Russia was behind the hacking as part of an active attempt to influence the U.S. election and undermine democratic institutions."

Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.: "The Russians are clearly a big adversary. And they demonstrated it by trying to mess around in our election," McConnell said on Jan. 8 in an appearance on CBS' Face the Nation. "I accept ... what the intelligence community has unanimously agreed to, that they were trying to affect the election."

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky: "... Did (the Russians) hack into the DNC’s emails? Probably, and so we need to protect ourselves," Paul said in a Jan. 9 radio interview,. He added that many countries engage in cyber-warfare, including the U.S., and also said he has a "healthy degree of skepticism" with regard to James Clapper, the current Director of National Intelligence. Paul accused Clapper of misleading Congress about the collection of meta data from Americans' cell phones.

Q: Do you believe the investigation of Russian hacking is a “political witch hunt”? What should be the U.S. response to Russia?

Trump says Russian hacking claim is a 'political witch hunt'

Chabot: "Unfortunately, too many are trying to politicize this issue, at a time when we should be standing united and seeking bipartisan solutions.  Simply put, cyberattacks are a growing problem which must be dealt with seriously.  Whether the attacks are from Russia, China or North Korea or from wherever, we must make sure our institutions, our businesses and the American people are protected."  

Wenstrup: "I think both sides of the aisle are trying to get to the truth. I wouldn’t call that a witch hunt."

Davidson: “Again, I haven’t seen the evidence ... I know it’s a narrative that the left loves  … I’m a data-driven guy, and I haven’t seen the data on it yet.”

Massie: "Of course it's a political effort to de-legitimize the incoming administration.  Where was the outrage when the Chinese allegedly hacked the personnel files of millions of Americans in possession of the U.S. government?  It's also worth noting that the unclassified portion of the president's budget for U.S. propaganda abroad was $750 million this year. There's both hypocrisy and a double standard here." 

Portman: Portman's spokesperson did not directly answer the question about Trump's "witch hunt" allegation. But the senator has co-sponsored legislation to impose comprehensive sanctions on Russia and backed changes in current law to strengthen the U.S.'s ability to respond to disinformation, propaganda campaigns, and other such threats.

Brown: "The integrity of our American military and civilian intelligence officials is beyond reproach. Russia’s attack on our democratic process is not a partisan issue ... I am working with Republicans and Democrats to craft strong legislation to hold Russia accountable and make clear to the world that America will not tolerate interference with our democratic institutions."

McConnell: McConnell has supported a congressional probe of the hacking and said he has the "highest confidence" in the U.S. intelligence agencies. He called the Obama administration's new sanctions against Russia a "good first step," but suggested it was too little, too late.

Paul: In the Jan. 9 interview, Paul said the intelligence agencies "have politicized all this." He said the U.S. needs to confront Russia "from a position of strength."

Q: Do you agree with Trump that “the people of Crimea … would rather be with Russia than where they were” and the U.S. should consider recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea?

Trump to consider recognizing Russian control of Crimea

Chabot: "Russia’s hostile annexation of Crimea was a criminal act in violation of international law, and must never be recognized by the United States or our NATO allies."  

Wenstrup: "I don’t know what he’s basing his statement on to come to that conclusion. I don’t at this point (support recognizing Russia's annexation), no."

Davidson: “I think that would be a mistake to recognize seemingly naked aggression … I don’t think Crimea belongs to Russia.”

Massie: "I don't think it's worth going to war with Russia over Crimea, especially if the Europeans aren't willing to push back against the annexation of Crimea."

Portman: "We should never recognize the Russian annexation of Crimea. It was illegal  It broke international law. It’s something the United States should be standing up on along with our NATO allies."

Brown: "America cannot tolerate Russian attempts to undermine democracy around the world. We wouldn’t tolerate China invading Taiwan, and we must not tolerate such actions by Russia. Russia’s annexation of Crimea is a gross violation of international law and of Ukraine’s sovereignty."

McConnell: His spokesman did not directly respond to this question. But McConnell supported sanctions the Obama administration imposed against Russia after it annexed Crimea and has bemoaned Russia's efforts to expand "its sphere of influence" and attempts to "bully the Baltic countries."

Paul: Spokesman did not respond.