Hillary Clinton's campaign says the Obama administration "owes it to the American people" to reveal what it knows about Russian interference in last month's election.

Campaign chairman John Podesta, whose emails were stolen and posted on the internet, said "never before in the history of our Republic have we seen such an effort to undermine the bedrock of our democracy".

Mr Podesta said the campaign supported an effort by a handful of members of the Electoral College, including a Republican who said he would not vote for President-elect Donald Trump, to be briefed on US intelligence on potential links between Mr Trump's campaign and Russia.

Ten electors on Monday released an "open letter" to Director of National Intelligence James Clapper requesting information about ongoing investigations on ties between Mr Trump and "Russian Government interference in the election".

Mr Podesta agrees with Senate Intelligence Democrats who last week called for President Barack Obama to declassify and make public intelligence information on Russia's attempts to interfere in the election.

"The administration owes it to the American people to explain what it knows regarding the extent and manner of Russia's interference and this be done as soon as possible," Mr Podesta said in a statement.

The letter from the electors, released on the social media site Medium, was written by Christine Pelosi, the daughter of top House Democrat Nancy Pelosi of California.

Trump shows 'daily he is not qualified'

Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who receives super-secret intelligence as one of the top leaders of Congress, followed hours later with a call for an investigation by an independent commission.

"The US intelligence community has determined that Russia interfered in US elections," Ms Pelosi said.

"There must be no equivocation or ignoring the seriousness of the intelligence community's conclusion about Russia's actions."

None of the electors behind the letter are likely to vote for Mr Trump. The votes are cast on December 19.

Nine are Democrats and the sole Republican to sign the letter is Chris Suprun, a Texas paramedic.

Mr Suprun attracted national attention with a New York Times column last week in which he said Mr Trump was "someone who shows daily he is not qualified for the office".

The letter says the founding fathers envisioned the Electoral College as a deliberative body and not simply a rubber stamp to ratify the results.

"The constitution envisions the Electoral College as a deliberative body that plays a critical role in our system of government, ensuring that the American people elect a president who is constitutionally qualified and fit to serve," the electors wrote.

Twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have passed laws designed to bind members of the Electoral College so that they are not "faithless electors".

Reuters