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WASHINGTON \u2014 Sounding the alarm from behind a curtain of classification, lawmakers briefed on U.S. intelligence have been practically begging the Trump administration to make public information about ongoing 2020 election <\/a>meddling, even before the U.S. intelligence community\u2019s startling new assessment.<\/p>\n

Now that the administration has taken a step in that direction, some of those same lawmakers are insisting they\u2019ve viewed far more intelligence that must be declassified \u2014 and soon, so voters can protect themselves ahead of an election just three months away.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe more of the information that was made available in these briefings can, and at the appropriate time should, be shared with the voting public,\u201d Sens. Marco Rubio and Mark Warner, the top Republican and Democrat on the Senate\u2019s intelligence panel, said in a joint statement. They urged the administration to \u201cshare with the voting public as much information about foreign threats to our elections as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

The public assessment<\/a> late Friday from U.S. counterintelligence chief William Evanina framed foreign election meddling as a threat to both presidential candidates, emphasizing that China and Iran want President Donald Trump to lose re-election.<\/p>\n

But it was the assessment that Russia is working \u201cto primarily denigrate former Vice President Biden\u201d that spoke directly to what members of Congress had been trying to get into the public domain \u2014 especially when it comes to Andriy Derkach, the pro-Russian member of Ukrainian parliament who Evanina said is \u201cspreading claims about corruption\u201d to taint Biden and Democrats.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome Kremlin-linked actors are also seeking to boost President Trump\u2019s candidacy on social media and Russian television,\u201d the assessment added.<\/p>\n

All 535 members of the House and Senate have access to sensitive information, including U.S. intelligence, not available to the general public. The Republican and Democratic leaders in both chambers and their top members on the intelligence committees, known collectively as the \u201cGang of Eight,\u201d are privy to even more highly classified information that can only be viewed in a special secure facility.<\/p>\n

Disclosing classified information without authorization, even if someone believes it\u2019s in the national interest, is a federal crime punishable by up to 10 years in prison. And while Congress is often blamed for national security leaks, lawmakers are generally careful not to cross over into classified territory when they speak publicly.<\/p>\n