US lawmakers set up task force to prevent foreign interference in presidential poll

A bipartisan group of seven influential first-time American Congressmen on Monday announced to set up a task force to prevent interference of foreign elements in the US presidential elections, scheduled for November 2020.

The Task Force Sentry will focus on gathering information from experts, working together across the partisan divide to advance effective policy, and helping to protect the public from disinformation.

In a joint statement, the lawmakers said they will introduce legislations to plug holes in the existing laws that "allow for foreign interference and financial influence in the US political process".

"We believe that protecting our country from foreign adversaries should never be partisan," said the lawmakers -- Elissa Slotkin, Anthony Gonzalez, Abigail Spanberger, Lauren Underwood, Mikie Sherill, Chrissy Houlahan and Xochitl Torres Small.

"It is our duty to respond to threats when we see them and that is what we have been doing for the last eight weeks, to develop new .