The
U.S has sanctioned Russia over alleged interference of Russian hackers
in the recently concluded election to give Donald Trump an edge.
Barack Obama
President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered the expulsion of 35
Russian suspected spies and imposed sanctions on two Russian
intelligence agencies over their involvement in hacking U.S. political
groups in the 2016 presidential election.
The measures, taken during the last days of Obama's presidency,
mark a new post-Cold War low in U.S.-Russian ties and set up a potential
flashpoint between incoming President-elect Donald Trump and fellow
Republicans in Congress over how to deal with Moscow.
Obama, a Democrat, had promised consequences after U.S.
intelligence officials blamed Russia for hacks intended to influence the
2016 election. Officials pointed the finger directly at Russian
President Vladimir Putin for personally directing the efforts and
primarily targeting Democrats, who put pressure on Obama to respond.
"These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that
we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and
appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of
established international norms of behavior," Obama said in a statement
from Hawaii, where he is on vacation.
"All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions," he said.
It was not clear whether Trump, who has repeatedly praised Putin
and nominated people seen as friendly toward Moscow to senior
administration posts, would seek to roll back the measures once he takes
office on Jan. 20.
Trump has brushed aside allegations from the CIA and other
intelligence agencies that Russia was behind the cyber attacks. He said
on Thursday he would meet with intelligence officials soon.
“It's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things," Trump said in a statement.
"Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great
people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week
in order to be updated on the facts of this situation," he said, without mentioning Russia.
The Kremlin, which denounced the sanctions as unlawful and promised
"adequate" retaliation, questioned whether Trump approved of the new
sanctions. Moscow denies the hacking allegations.
U.S. intelligence agencies say Russia was behind hacks into
Democratic Party organizations and operatives ahead of the Nov. 8
presidential election. U.S. intelligence officials say the Russian cyber
attacks were aimed at helping Trump defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Republican and Democratic lawmakers have voiced concern about
Russia's actions, setting up a potential wall of opposition should Trump
seek to overturn Obama's measures.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
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