Sen. Patrick Leahy Patrick Joseph LeahyDemocrats shoot down talk of expanding Supreme Court Battle over timing complicates Democratic shutdown strategy Hillicon Valley: Russia 'amplifying' concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election MORE (D-Vt.) says reports that Russian hackers breached a Vermont utility represent a "direct threat to Vermont."

“My staff and I were briefed by Vermont State police Colonel Matthew Brimingham this evening,” Leahy said in a statement, according to MSNBC.

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“This is beyond hackers having electronic joy rides — this is now about trying to access utilities to potentially manipulate the grid and shut it down in the middle of winter. That is a direct threat to Vermont and we do not take it lightly.”

On Friday, the Washington Post reported that Russian hackers breached a utility in Vermont, but did not interrupt electrical operations.

Vermont Public Service Commissioner Christopher Recchia said malware was discovered on a laptop that was not connected to the grid's operations.

President Obama on Thursday announced a series of measures aimed at Russia, including expelling 35 intelligence operatives and a swath of economic sanctions.

The move came after the U.S. intelligence community concluded that Russia interfered in the U.S. presidential election. Both Russia and President-elect Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE have denied Kremlin interference.

The Russians have previously been accused of international cyberattacks on electrical grids, including in Ukraine.