WASHINGTON
Obama sanctions Russian officials over election hackingDavid Jackson | USA TODAY
Updated 3 minutes ago
WASHINGTON — Responding to evidence that Russia hacked Democratic Party officials during this year's presidential election, the Obama administration Thursday sanctioned Russian intelligence officials, expelled 35 Russian diplomats suspected of being spies, and shut down two Russian facilities in the United States.
"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," President Obama said in a statement, describing their efforts to interfere in the election as a threat to the democratic process.
Obama also suggested that the Russians sought to affect previous elections via cyber-espionage, and suggested that the U.S. would engage in covert retaliation activity.
The administration will soon "be providing a report to Congress in the coming days about Russia’s efforts to interfere in our election, as well as malicious cyber activity related to our election cycle in previous elections," he said.
In addition, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement accusing Russia of a decade-long cyber campaign targeting American government, infrastructure, and citizens in general.
Obama signed an executive order outlining economic penalties for individuals and organizations involved in "tampering with, altering, or causing a misappropriation of information with the purpose or effect of interfering with or undermining election processes or institutions."
The sanctions affect "nine entities and individuals," Obama said: "The GRU and the FSB, two Russian intelligence services; four individual officers of the GRU; and three companies that provided material support to the GRU’s cyber operations."
They did not include Russian President Vladimir Putin, though Obama strongly suggested that he knew about the Russian hacking activity because "these data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government."
The administration also expelled 35 Russian intelligence operatives from the U.S. and shut down two Russian compounds, in Maryland and New York, which Obama said were "used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes."
Russia is likely to respond in kind by kicking out U.S. officials from its country; the U.S. has claimed that its diplomats in Russia are being harassed for years in any case.
Read more:
Obama: 'We handled it the way it should have been handled’


U.S.intelligence agencies have accused the Russians of getting involved in the election in order to help Donald Trump win the presidency, accusations that Putin and other Russian officials have denied. These agencies are conducting a formal investigation, and Congress is likely to conduct a probe of its own.
Anticipating the sanctions Wednesday, Russia accused Obama of acting out of spite, and pledged retaliation.
“People in the White House need to understand clearly that if Washington really takes new hostile steps, then it will receive a response,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in a video statement.
Obama had pledged a response earlier this month and also suggested that covert activity — including U.S. cyber activity — will be included.
"These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia’s aggressive activities," Obama said Thursday. "We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicized."

Source: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2016/12/29/barack-obama-russia-sanctions-vladimir-putin/95958472

One thing I knw 4 sure is, Expect Russian response..

If there's any country dat stands up 2 d U.S, it russian(Putin)...

Almighty america na russia dey hack, nawa

cliquevibes:
One thing I knw 4 sure is, Expect Russian response..

If there's any country dat stands up 2 d U.S, it russian(Putin)...

I think Obama is trying to make things difficult for Trump Pence. Just praying this doesnt trigger WW3.

toocoded:

I think Obama is trying to make things difficult for Trump Pence. Just praying this doesnt trigger WW3.

Nah, I do think russia did ave a hand in d hacking of d DNC files..

It a known fact that putin and trump are friend buh dat cannot be said for hillary and putin..Even Hillary said dat Putin does ave a beef with her..

We do not want war .