WASHINGTON – Racing the political clock, Democrats are searching for way to force the Trump administration to continue briefing Congress in person about foreign attempts to interfere in the November election.

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia is vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. He cited Russian interference in the 2016 election and called the decision to stop briefing Congress “outrageous” and “unprecedented.”

“Russia interfered in our elections in 2016, and they’re doing it again in 2020. One the lessons we should draw from what happened in 2016 is that Congress and the American public need to know more information about the election interference threat — not less,” said Warner.

Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe says most briefings on what the administration knows about efforts to influence the election will now be given to Congress in writing. He says that in the past, delivering “all-member” briefings in-person has resulted in “leaks” for political purposes within moments. A top Democrat calls that “a lie.”

But there’s little time for Democrats to challenge the decision in the shadow of the Nov. 3 election and few options to compel the administration to change course.