In January 2013, Angus King was sworn in as Maine’s first Independent United States Senator, filling the same seat once held by storied Maine leaders Edmund Muskie, George Mitchell, and Olympia Snowe.
A strong believer in the need for greater bipartisan dialogue and relationship building, Senator King is proud to join the long line of thoughtful, independent leaders from the State of Maine, and he works hard every day to bring Republicans and Democrats together to find common-sense solutions for Maine and America. He is a proven consensus-builder who “calls ‘em like he sees ‘em”, putting civility and respect ahead of political ideology.
We are at a moment in history when the fight against terrorism, cyber-attacks, regional conflicts, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction continue to challenge our nation at every turn. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, I am acutely aware of the need to provide our government with adequate resources to understand and respond to the evolving nature of these diverse security threats.
Maine plays a vital role in guaranteeing the continued fortitude of our nation’s defenses, and those who contribute to this noble effort have my enduring support and deepest gratitude. From the courageous men and women who serve in our armed forces to the civilian employees working tirelessly to ensure the strength of our military industrial base – including those at Bath Iron Works, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and beyond – I am fiercely committed to fighting on behalf of all Mainers who have dedicated their lives to the defense of our country.
I am particularly concerned about the growing danger presented by cyber-attacks, breaches, and intrusions. Foreign governments and criminals are using digital tools and the internet to steal sensitive information and technologies, which hurts U.S. workers and puts our security at risk. We also face growing computer-based threats to key information systems that connect to our transportation infrastructure, electric grid, water systems, and financial networks.
As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, I am also focused on investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, any potential connection between the Trump presidential campaign and the Russian government, and importantly, Russia’s attempts to infiltrate our state election systems. The committee’s investigation is broad in scope and each day comes with new revelations, but we should not lose sight of the fact that the Russians appear to have carried out a deliberate and sophisticated attack on our democracy. This is not a Republican issue, or a Democrat issue, it is an American issue and we must work together to address it.