Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairman Tom PerezThomas Edward PerezClinton’s top five vice presidential picks Government social programs: Triumph of hope over evidence Labor’s ‘wasteful spending and mismanagement” at Workers’ Comp MORE said Thursday morning that President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE is “compromised” in the “cyber war” with Russia.
“We are at war now. It is a cyber war,” Perez said CNN’s “New Day.” “Unfortunately, because our commander in chief is compromised, the federal government is asleep at the switch. … We can’t expect help from the administration.”
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Perez also noted the DNC’s pledge not to make use of stolen or hacked material in 2020, which he has asked the Republican National Committee to support.
Asked by host Alisyn Camerota if Democrats would continue to adhere to the pledge even if materials like Trump’s tax returns were exposed through hacking, Perez insisted Democrats would obtain those materials through congressional subpoena power. Trump is currently resisting requests for his tax returns from House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard NealRichard Edmund NealOvernight Health Care: US showing signs of retreat in battle against COVID-19 | Regeneron begins clinical trials of potential coronavirus antibody treatment | CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks CMS warns nursing homes against seizing residents’ stimulus checks Nursing homes under scrutiny after warnings of seized stimulus checks MORE (D-Mass.) and said Wednesday that he will fight “all the subpoenas.”
“What we are seeing is we need to restore the basic institutions of our democracy,” Perez said on Thursday. “The Homeland Security secretary wasn’t even allowed to bring it up,” he added, apparently referring to a report Wednesday that former Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen NielsenKirstjen Michele NielsenHillicon Valley: Twitter falling short on pledge to verify primary candidates | Barr vows to make surveillance reforms after watchdog report | DHS cyber chief focused on 2020 Sen. Kennedy slams acting DHS secretary for lack of coronavirus answers The ‘accidental director’ on the front line of the fight for election security MORE was warned not to discuss Russia’s election interference with Trump. Acting White House chief of staff Mick MulvaneyMick MulvaneyTrump names new acting director of legislative affairs 12 things to know today about coronavirus Mulvaney: ‘We’ve overreacted a little bit’ to coronavirus MORE reportedly told Nielsen that Russia’s election meddling “wasn’t a great subject and should be kept below [the president’s] level.”
Perez told Camerota that the DNC is taking further steps to bolster cybersecurity measures ahead of the 2020 election. During the lead-up to the 2016 election, WikiLeaks released hacked emails from the DNC and Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE’s campaign chairman, John Podesta.