washington u.s. senator wednesday say russian internet troll seek polarize americans help fuel debate ignite president donald trump whether nfl players right kneel national anthem assertion make republican jam lankford come congressional investigators probe moscow allege meddle 2016 presidential election focus russian agents use social media spread divisive political content watch even weekend russians troll farm internet folks start hashtagging takeaknee also hashtagging boycottnfl lankford sit senate intelligence committee say hear threats face unite state take side argument weekend ... try raise noise level america make big issue seem like even big issue try push divisiveness country lankford say lankford provide evidence corroborate statement lankford aide say u.s. intelligence share senators show russian troll operations rely social media meddle u.s. issue go back last year presidential election effort divide americans activity also occur europe years aide say website build researchers work alliance secure democracy bipartisan transatlantic project counter russian disinformation show tweet promote side football debate 600 account analysts identify users spread russian propaganda twitter senate aide say website view credible among congressional investigators facebook month reveal suspect russian troll purchase 100,000 worth divisive ads platform 2016 election cycle twitter expect privately brief senate panel thursday house intelligence committee say wednesday technology company would testify russian interference open hear next month trump last week say football players fire kneel national anthem players want draw attention say social racial injustice u.s. intelligence agencies conclude russia orchestrate multi-pronged cyber offensive 2016 election discredit democratic candidate hillary clinton help trump republican win russia deny seek influence u.s. election trump dismiss claim collusion fake news version story refiled remove extraneous word layer paragraph 11 senator say russian internet troll stoke nfl debate