EJ Montini

opinion columnist

Republican Rep. Trent Franks said if the Russian cyber spies successfully hacked into the computers of Hillary Clinton and Democrats and made the most embarrassing aspects of that information public did so to support the election of Donald Trump, they were performing a public service.

In other words, thievery, corruption of the American electoral process and espionage by foreign government hackers are … a good thing?

That’s what he says.

The entire U.S. intelligence community is convinced that Russia was behind the cyberattacks on Democrats and Clinton. They believe Republicans were hacked as well, but that no information was released on Donald Trump, whom they wanted to win. Even Russian President Vladimir Putin isn’t exactly denying the accusation, saying at a press conference, “[I]t’s not important who did the hacking. It’s important that the information that was revealed was true.”

So, stealing is OK if the info is accurate?

Franks actually agrees with that statement. He told MSNBC, “I’m all for doing what’s necessary to protect the election here, but there’s no suggestion that Russia hacked into our voting systems or anything like that. If anything, whatever they may have done, was to try to use information in a way that may have affected something that they believe was in their best interest. But the bottom line, if they succeeded – if Russia succeeded – in giving the American people information that was accurate, then they merely did what the media should have done.”

In other words, the media should have illegally hacked into the accounts of Clinton and the Democrats?

Think about that.

Montini: Trump’s NSA adviser leaked classified info ... Lock HIM up?

A member of Congress just said it’s OK to break into someone else's computer and steal personal information if what the thief steals is “accurate.”

So, if a hacker broke into Franks' personal computer or government email and released anything he found it would be acceptable – even admirable – as long as the information was “accurate?”

Would it be admirable to steal Franks' accurate Social Security number, for example?

As well as the accurate access numbers to his bank accounts, health records, personal correspondence and more?

And if a hacker breaks into any other American’s personal computer and uses that information to wipe out a savings account or steal an identity it must be okay with Franks because it was “something that they believe was in their best interest.”

That’s what Franks said about the Russians.

Does Franks not think crime is crime?

Cybercriminals of the world, rejoice!

As long as you steal “accurate” information Rep. Trent Franks says you are performing a service.

Would he say the same thing if Russian hackers broke into the American electrical grid and shut it down?

Would that be perfectly fine with Franks as long as the information they stole was accurate?

After all, such a hack would be “something that they believe was in their best interest.”

Montini: Is the maverick back? McCain not letting Putin or Trump off the hook

So, too, would a hack into the Pentagon.

For the Russians, knowing the launch codes of America’s nuclear arsenal would be “something that they believe was in their best interest.”

No problem as long as the codes are accurate?

Come on. Really. Each of these instances, from hacking the Democrats to hacking Franks to hacking the Pentagon, represents the same thing –a crime.

The same crime.

C R I M E

How could a U.S. congressman support such a thing?

How could U.S. citizens vote for such a man?