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U.S. evicts Russians for spying, imposes sanctions after election hacks

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U.S. evicts Russians for spying, imposes sanctions after election hacks

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President Barack Obama on Thursday expelled 35 Russians accused of spying and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies for hacking U.S. political groups during the 2016 election.

  The State Department ordered the Russians, declared “persona non grata,” to leave within 72 hours. It also shut two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland used for intelligence purposes.   Obama said the actions followed repeated warnings to Moscow. “All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions,” he said in a statement from Hawaii, where he is vacationing. He added the measures were only the beginning and promised further steps, some not made public.   The sanctions targeted the GRU and FSB intelligence agencies, four GRU officers, and three companies accused of supporting cyber operations.   U.S. intelligence officials say Russia hacked Democratic Party organizations to help Donald Trump defeat Hillary Clinton. They accuse President Vladimir Putin of personally directing the efforts. Moscow denies involvement and condemned the sanctions as illegal, vowing retaliation.   Trump, who takes office January 20, has praised Putin and dismissed CIA and FBI claims of Russian interference. On Thursday, he said: “It’s time for our country to move on to bigger and better things.” Still, he promised to meet intelligence leaders next week.   The measures mark one of the lowest points in U.S.-Russia relations since the Cold War and set up a clash between Trump and Republicans in Congress. Speaker Paul Ryan called the sanctions “overdue.” Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham pledged to push for even tougher penalties.   Obama also cited long-standing harassment of U.S. diplomats in Moscow by Russian agents and police. A senior official confirmed the expulsions target staff at the Russian embassy in Washington and the consulate in San Francisco, but Ambassador Sergei Kislyak will stay.   The White House will soon deliver a report to Congress on Russia’s interference in the 2016 election and earlier voting cycles.   Trump could reverse the sanctions once in office, but U.S. officials warned doing so would be unwise.     –

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