U.S. evicts Russians for spying, imposes
sanctions after election hacks
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[December 30, 2016]
By Jeff Mason and Lesley Wroughton
HONOLULU/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - 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.
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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.
U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan, the top Republican in
Congress, said Russia "has consistently sought to undermine" U.S.
interests and called the sanctions overdue.
Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham said they intended to
lead effort in Congress to "impose stronger sanctions on Russia."
Incoming White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus told Fox News he did
not condone foreign governments hacking U.S. institutions.
"It’s wrong and it’s something we don’t agree with," Priebus said.
"However, it would be nice if we could get to a place where the
intelligence community in unison can tell us what it is that has been
going on and what the investigation was and what it has led to so that
we can respond."
The Trump team's response could generate bipartisan discord early in the
new administration's tenure.
"This is going to be a key source of tension post-inauguration," said
Eric Lorber, a senior associate at the Financial Integrity Network,
which advises banks on sanctions.
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![](../images/123016pics/news_m19.jpg)
President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin walk
into a photo opportunity before their meeting at the United Nations
General Assembly in New York September 28, 2015. REUTERS/Kevin
Lamarque
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SPIES AND SANCTIONS
Obama put sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies, the GRU
and the FSB, four GRU officers and three companies that he said
"provided material support to the GRU’s cyber operations."
He said the State Department declared as "persona non grata" 35
Russian intelligence operatives and is closing two Russian compounds
in New York and Maryland that were used by Russian personnel for
"intelligence-related purposes." The State Department originally
said the 35 were diplomats.
The 45-acre complex in Maryland includes a Georgian-style brick
mansion, swimming pool, tennis courts and cottages for embassy
staff.
A senior U.S. official told Reuters the expulsions would come from
the Russian embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco.
The Russian embassy declined to comment.
The Russians have 72 hours to leave the United States, the official
said. Access to the two compounds will be denied to all Russian
officials as of noon on Friday.
The State Department has long complained that Russian security
agents and traffic police have harassed U.S. diplomats in Moscow,
and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has raised the issue with
Putin and his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.
The U.S. official declined to name the Russian diplomats who would
be affected, although it is understood that Russia's ambassador to
the United States, Sergei Kislyak, will not be one of those
expelled.
Obama said the actions announced on Thursday were just the
beginning.
"These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia’s
aggressive activities. We will continue to take a variety of actions
at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be
publicized," Obama said.
A report detailing Russia's interference in the 2016 election as
well as cyber attacks in previous election cycles would be delivered
to Congress in the coming days, he added.
The sanctions were the strongest response yet by the Obama
administration to Russia's cyber activities. However, a senior
administration official acknowledged that Trump could reverse them
and allow Russian intelligence officials back into the United States
once he takes office. He said that would be inadvisable.
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Obama amended an executive order originally issued in April 2015 to
respond to cyber hacking to include sanctions on those who tamper
with information to interfere with an election.
Trump said in October he would “cancel every unconstitutional
executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama" on
his first day in office, without saying who would determine their
constitutionality.
(Additional reporting by Dustin Volz, Yeganeh Torbati, Eric Beech
and Nikolai Pavlov in Washington and Katya Golubkova and Svetlana
Reiter in Moscow; Writing by Yara Bayoumy and Jeff Mason; Editing by
Alistair Bell and Leslie Adler)
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