washington senate top republican break president-elect donald trump monday whether russian hack u.s. election merit close scrutiny fissure trump party appear grow lawmakers press special investigation matter divide raise possibility endure clash trump republicans presidency handle russian president vladimir putin leader long view many party calculate untrustworthy foe trump repeatedly praise leadership russians friends senate majority leader mitch mcconnell tell news conference call sunday two lead republican foreign policy voice senators john mccain lindsey graham investigate russia hack buoy monday mcconnell say russia involvement need investigation foreign breach cyber security measure disturb strongly condemn efforts mcconnell say simply partisan issue mcconnell say defy belief republicans would reluctant investigate russian action mcconnell remark contrast trump staff scoff report cia conclude hack leak democratic email carry goal help trump defeat democrat hillary clinton trump say conclusion ridiculous lawmakers call special committee investigate hack mcconnell back idea say confidence senate intelligence arm service committees cory gardner republican say russian hack reflect need permanent committee dedicate cyber security clear house representatives would respond hack call investigations house committees announce plan hear republican house speaker paul ryan issue statement criticize russia blast term exploit work intelligence committee partisan purpose though congressional republicans support probe russia involvement election shy away agree cia assessment hack deliberately carry undermine clinton obvious russians hack campaign mccain say monday interview reuters information intend affect outcome election need congressional investigation separately monday one republican nine democratic electors lead daughter house democratic leader nancy pelosi write jam clapper u.s. director national intelligence request brief hack report electoral college formally decide election dec. 19. john podesta chairman clinton presidential campaign say statement campaign support electors letter raise grave issue involve national security clapper office respond request comment letter charles schumer senate democratic leader next year say welcome mcconnell support deep thorough bipartisan investigation access relevant intelligence trump staff repeatedly dismiss report ridiculous blame democrats unhappy trump imagine election result opposite try play russia/cia card trump say twitter monday would call conspiracy theory second tweet say unless catch hackers act hard determine hack bring election white house press secretary josh earnest monday point public statement intelligence community early october conclude hack authorize russia senior-most officials aim sow discord u.s. election statement stop short allege russia want help trump earnest suggest monday may intent need security clearance figure benefit malicious russian cyber activity earnest say president-elect call question call russia hack opponent call russia hack secretary clinton senate republican leader back investigation russian hack