Russia is determined to interfere in U.S. elections despite sanctions and other efforts to deter such actions before the next presidential election in 2020, FBI Director Christopher Wray said Tuesday. "The Russians are absolutely intent on trying to interfere with our elections," Wray said during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Wray appeared at an oversight hearing a day before Robert Mueller, the former special counsel, was due to testify publicly before Congress about his two-year investigation of Russian interference to sway the 2016 presidential race toward President Donald Trump. "Everything we've done against Russia has not deterred them enough?" asked Senator Lindsey Graham, the Republican committee chairman. "All the sanctions, all the talk, they're still at it?" "Yes. My view is until they stop they haven't been deterred enough," Wray responded.

Mueller's investigation disclosed an elaborate campaign of hacking and propaganda during the 2016 presidential race and resulted in indictments that charged 25 Russian individuals and three Russian companies. The United States has imposed election-related sanctions on Russian oligarchs and military intelligence officials and there is a push for legislation threatening tougher sanctions in the U.S. Congress. As Wray confirmed the Russia threat remains, Senate Democrats criticized Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for not taking up election security legislation. McConnell has said enough money was set aside for security last year and there was no need for extra measures. "We have been warned in closed sessions about the Russian plans to corrupt this next election and they're very specific," Senator Richard Durbin said at a news conference. "What are we doing about it? The answer is: Nothing. The reason: Mitch McConnell." The Russia investigation cast a shadow over Trump's White House tenure and the president has repeatedly downplayed the Kremlin's role in trying to help him win. At last year's summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, he sided with Moscow over U.S. intelligence agencies. In his most recent meeting with the Russian leader, in June, Trump appeared to make light of the issue, wagging his finger at the laughing Russian leader as he said, "Don't meddle in the election, please."