Obama administration announces measures to punish Russia for 2016 election interference
The Obama Administration announced sweeping new measures against Russia on Dec 29 in retaliation for what US officials have characterized as interference in 2016’s presidential election, ordering the expulsion of Russian “intelligence operatives” and slapping new sanctions on state agencies and individuals suspected in the hacks of US computer systems. The response, unveiled just weeks before President Barack Obama leaves office, culminates months of internal debate over how to react to Russia’s election-year provocations.
In recent months, the FBI and CIA have concluded that Russia intervened repeatedly in the 2016 election, leaking damaging information in an attempt to undermine the electoral process and help Donald Trump take the White House. Because Dec 29's announcement is an executive action, it can be undone by the next administration. President Obama also ejected 35 suspected Russian intelligence operatives from the United States and imposed sanctions on Russia’s two leading intelligence services.
Obama administration announces measures to punish Russia for 2016 election interference Obama Strikes Back at Russia for Election Hacking (New York Times) Obama expels 35 Russian diplomats in retaliation for US election hacking (The Guardian) Taking Additional Steps to Address the National Emergency with Respect to Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities (Executive Order) Actions in Response to Russian Malicious Cyber Activity and Harassment (Fact Sheet) The Administration’s Response to Russia: What You Need to Know (WH Press Release)