To the editor:

The ongoing revelations about connections between Russian officials and the Trump campaign are profoundly disturbing. Russian intrusion into our election, and the apparent ongoing Russian influence on our foreign policy, are violations of our country’s sovereignty. This should not be a partisan issue.

The United States needs an independent commission, much like the 9/11 commission, to investigate connections and possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian officials. It must be truly independent, bipartisan, with wide subpoena and investigatory powers. We cannot allow this existential threat to our democratic institutions to be whitewashed by a surface-level investigation. The Republican leadership of the House Intelligence Committee does not seem eager to scrutinize these matters closely.

The number of Trump officials who communicated with the Russian ambassador and Russian intelligence during the campaign is alarming, as is the fact that at least two of them, Mike Flynn and Jeff Sessions, have seen fit to lie about it. What do they have to hide? We must find out; Republican leaders in Congress must put country over party.

Rep. Jenkins, Sen. Roberts and Sen. Moran have not called for an independent commission to investigate ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. They must do so immediately. Our country’s sovereignty and democratic institutions are at stake.