washington democrats u.s. senate foreign relations committee undertake investigation without republicans term russia malign influence around world spokesman democratic side committee say wednesday sean bartlett spokesman senator ben cardin lead effort say democrats prepare major report russia seek sow distrust confusion promote radical voice divisive issue gain leverage erode support democracy institutions investigation first report daily beast come handful republican-led congressional committees include senate house representatives intelligence committees well special counsel robert mueller investigate allege russian interference 2016 u.s. election whether collusion republican president donald trump campaign moscow trump deny collusion moscow deny meddle foreign relations democrats look u.s. contest say discover russian-led efforts influence elections many countries report describe efforts lead government security service buttress state-owned enterprises kremlin-aligned oligarchs russian criminal group effectively nationalize state bartlett say email statement committee investigations include contact foreign governments ukraine estonia latvia lithuania poland among countries discuss russian meddle committee republicans say aware investigation involve aware senator cardin develop report russian efforts interfere european elections staff yet share us say micah johnson spokeswoman senator bob corker committee republican chairman clear report might release publicly democrats work independent russia probe