'There is a real crisis of legitimacy': Elijah Cummings says Russian hacks threaten 'soul of our democracy'

Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) lamented that revelations about Russian hacking of the U.S. election had devolved into yet another partisan feud.

The Maryland Democrat said intelligence officials found clear evidence the election interference was directed by "the highest levels of the Russian government," and he compared the hacks to the deadliest terror attack in American history.

"This is like a 9/11 for us," Cummings said. "We should be addressing it in a very serious and, it must be, an independent way."

The congressman said President Barack Obama had issued a warning Oct. 17 about Russia's interference in the U.S. election, but that was buried under coverage of a recording that revealed Donald Trump boasting about getting away with grabbing women by their genitals.

Cummings and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) have introduced legislation that would establish a bipartisan commission, similar to the one that investigated the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, to investigate the election-related hacks.

"This is a struggle for the soul of our democracy," Cummings said. "We're seeing all of our institutions being attacked -- our election system, the FBI, the CIA -- so there is a real crisis of legitimacy."

"This is a struggle for the soul of our democracy" -- @RepCummings wants 9/11-type commission to look into hackings https://t.co/tDUzmXcuop

— New Day (@NewDay) December 16, 2016