Democrat Suggests NH Liquor Stores Study Banning Russian Vodka in Response to 2016 Hacking Allegation

CONCORD, NH — The state Senate minority leader has announced a proposal to create a study commission to analyze any state governmental response New Hampshire could make in the wake of alleged “Russian interference” in the 2016 election cycle. State Sen. Jeff Woodburn, D-Whitefield, proposed the bipartisan commission to evaluate and recommend actions the state could take including suspending or stopping products produced in that country including liquor purchases made by the New Hampshire Liquor Commission and even divesting the state’s retirement system from all assets connected to the country.

“Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, both here in the Granite State and our great country as a whole,” Woodburn stated in a press release about LSR 932. “The uncontested conclusion by the US intelligence community of Russian interference in our elections requires a response at the local, state, and federal levels.”

Woodburn stated that the “confirmed interference in our elections” should move the state of New Hampshire to not “just continue a ‘business as usual’ relationship with Russia,” and that was the motivation for the filing.

“Foreign interference in our elections not only undermines our Constitutional democracy, but our independence and sovereignty,” Woodburn added. “This is not a partisan issue. That’s why I have invited all Senators and the bipartisan leadership of the NH House to co-sponsor this legislation. When our freedoms are threatened, Granite Staters expect us to respond and I am proud to bring forward legislation to do so.”

When asked if Democratic leaders had proposed study commissions to investigate other election violations, like the three illegal mailers that were sent thousands of voters in New Hampshire with a phony NRA blurb that targeted incumbent U.S. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, that played a role in her losing her Senate seat to then-Gov. Maggie Hassan, D-NH, by about 1,000 votes, Democratic Policy Director Ryan Mahoney stated he was not aware of any such legislation.