President Barack Obama on Thursday sanctioned Russian officials and entities involved in the Russian election hacking of the 2016 election.
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Obama Responds to Russian Hacking
In a statement put out by the White House, President Obama said, “All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions.”
The Obama administration’s is to two Russian intelligence agencies, three companies and four individual intelligence officers with sanctions banning them from travel and business with U.S. companies or individuals. President Obama has ordered 35 Russian operatives posted at diplomatic facilities in Washington and San Francisco to leave the United States.
And the Obama administration is also closing down two Russian compounds in Maryland and New York used to gather intelligence, according to the president’s announcement.
President Obama has shown his commitment to not just proving that Russia was responsible but also holding them accountable. The Obama administration is planning for Congress to receive intelligence reports showing the proof before Donald Trump takes office so that he is not able to call off the investigation.
In addition to the announcement by the Obama Administration, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI released a 13-page joint report Thursday that included additional details about the Russian hack.
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The New York Times is reporting that administration officials may release additional details publicly soon.
The statement from Obama goes on to say, “These data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government. Moreover, our diplomats have experienced an unacceptable level of harassment in Moscow by Russian security services and police over the last year. Such activities have consequences.”
The sanctions target the specific Russian intelligence agency that is responsible for the election hacking.
The sanctions place Donald Trump in an uncomfortable position politically. He will find it difficult to remove the sanctions once he is in office because so many on Capitol Hill, including prominent members of his own party are pushing for tough action against Rusia.
Shortly after President Obama announced the sanctions, House Speaker Paul Ryan issued a statement supporting Obama’s actions. “Russia does not share America’s interests. In fact, it has consistently sought to undermine them, sowing dangerous instability around the world,” he said.
Just yesterday Donald Trump responded to a question about responding to the Russian hack by saying “I think we ought to get on with our lives.” He was flanked by discgrased boxing promoter Don King when he gave that statement.
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