Former Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson testifies about Russian meddling in the 2016 election before the House I...

Jeh Johnson says hacking didn’t alter ballot counts

WASHINGTON — Former Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says cyberattacks orchestrated by the Russian government did not alter any ballots, ballot counts or the reporting of election results.

But Johnson tells the House Intelligence committee that he doesn’t know whether the hacking of the Democratic National Committee’s emails and other Moscow-directed interference “did in fact alter public opinion, and thereby alter the outcome of the presidential election.”

Johnson tells the panel that U.S. voting systems remain vulnerable to future cyberattacks. He’s urging lawmakers to grapple with the problem and to shield a pillar of American democracy.

He says, “We have to learn.”

WATCH: Jeh Johnson testifies in House Intelligence Committee hearing on Russia

Johnson says “the Russians will be back” and possibly other “bad cyber actors,” too, to meddle in future elections.

Johnson served as DHS secretary from December 2013 to January 2017.

READ MORE: Jeh Johnson says he was unaware of FBI Russia probe