In response to multiple reports of Russian cyber interference in the recent U.S. election cycle, the Obama Administration issued a series of sanctions against the Russian Federation in violation of established international norms of behavior.
Among the actions issued by the President, 35 Russian government officials from the Russian Embassy in Washington D.C. and the Russian Consulate in San Francisco were declared “persona non grata.” Each individual was given a 72-hour window to leave the United States. Additionally, the United States shut down two compounds, one in Maryland and another in New York, that were used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related operations.
The President also addressed a forthcoming joint analysis report by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The report contains declassified information on Russian civilian and military intelligence services’ cyberattacks in an effort to better prepare United States-based network defense and disrupt Russia’s continuing malicious cyber activity.
“The hacking of our election systems is not a partisan issue. All Americans, regardless of party affiliation, should be alarmed that any foreign power would interfere in and attempt to undermine the free and fair elections that are the hallmark of our democracy,” Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) said. “Congress must work together to ensure that the extent of the Russian hacking is investigated in a comprehensive, transparent and nonpartisan way in order to ensure that this can never happen again.”