Obama slaps Russia with sanctions for meddling in the U.S. election President Obama and Vladimir Putin President Obama has retaliated with new sanctions against Russia for what intellgience officials have concluded was meddling in the U.S. election. (Associated Press) Christi Parsons, Brian Bennett In the most sweeping retaliation against Russia in decades, President Obama slapped the country with new penalties Thursday for meddling in the U.S. presidential election, kicking out dozens of suspected spies and imposing banking restrictions on five people and four organizations the administration says were involved. “All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions,” Obama said in a statement. “Such activities have consequences.” ADVERTISING The penalties were aimed at punishing officials in the government of President Vladimir Putin, among them agents linked to email hacks of top Hillary Clinton campaign officials and the Democratic National Committee. They included sanctions of two of Russia’s intelligence agencies and three companies the U.S. said provided support. Additionally, 35 Russian officials in the U.S. were ordered to leave within three days and access was cut off starting Friday to two Russian government-owned compounds, one in New York and one in Maryland. Paid Post WHAT'S THIS? Carr Side Steps A Message from Auto Parts Warehouse Carr Side Steps for $79.71. See More 'How much and what damage?' Senators call for a special committee to investigate Russian hacking 'How much and what damage?' Senators call for a special committee to investigate Russian hacking The hackers leaked emails revealing campaign-related correspondence of senior Clinton advisor John Podesta and other Democratic operatives, U.S. intelligence officials have concluded. Clinton has blamed Putin himself and told supporters that he went after her because of a “personal beef” against her. President-elect Donald Trump has dismissed the idea that Putin was involved or that the leaks affected the outcome of the election. Obama has all but blamed Putin personally, telling reporters before Christmas that very little happens in the Russian government without Putin’s knowledge. The interference in the American election calls for retaliation, administration officials say. Obama has said that he would make some of the penalties known publicly, but that his administration will launch other retribution that they won’t discuss. Thursday’s announcement came while Obama is vacation with his family in his childhood home of Hawaii. The retaliation is certain to exacerbate tensions with Russia during the transition from the Obama presidency to the Trump presidency. Trump has suggested that he plans to let the matter rest. “We ought to get on with our lives,” Trump told reporters Wednesday. Trump has rejected conclusions from the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that the Russian government was behind the hacks of computer systems and emails belonging to Democratic Party officials. The Obama administration should produce more evidence about the hacking, Sean Spicer, Trump’s incoming White House press secretary, told reporters earlier Thursday. “If the United States has clear proof of anyone interfering with our elections, we should make that known,” Spicer said. “Right now we need to see further facts,” he said. Spicer suggested accusations about Russia’s influence on the presidential election are politically motivated to undercut Trump’s mandate.

Obama slaps Russia with sanctions for meddling in the U.S. election la times 122916

President Obama has retaliated with new sanctions against Russia for what intellgience officials have concluded was meddling in the U.S. election. (Associated Press)

Christi Parsons, Brian Bennett

 

In the most sweeping retaliation against Russia in decades, President Obama slapped the country with new penalties Thursday for meddling in the U.S. presidential election, kicking out dozens of suspected spies and imposing banking restrictions on five people and four organizations the administration says were involved.

“All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions,” Obama said in a statement. “Such activities have consequences.”

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The penalties were aimed at punishing officials in the government of President Vladimir Putin, among them agents linked to email hacks of top Hillary Clinton campaign officials and the Democratic National Committee.

They included sanctions of two of Russia’s intelligence agencies and three companies the U.S. said provided support. Additionally, 35 Russian officials in the U.S. were ordered to leave within three days and access was cut off starting Friday to two Russian government-owned compounds, one in New York and one in Maryland. 

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'How much and what damage?' Senators call for a special committee to investigate Russian hacking

The hackers leaked emails revealing campaign-related correspondence of senior Clinton advisor John Podesta and other Democratic operatives, U.S. intelligence officials have concluded.

Clinton has blamed Putin himself and told supporters that he went after her because of a “personal beef” against her. President-elect Donald Trump has dismissed the idea that Putin was involved or that the leaks affected the outcome of the election.

Obama has all but blamed Putin personally, telling reporters before Christmas that very little happens in the Russian government without Putin’s knowledge.

The interference in the American election calls for retaliation, administration officials say. Obama has said that he would make some of the penalties known publicly, but that his administration will launch other retribution that they won’t discuss.

Thursday’s announcement came while Obama is vacation with his family in his childhood home of Hawaii.

The retaliation is certain to exacerbate tensions with Russia during the transition from the Obama presidency to the Trump presidency. Trump has suggested that he plans to let the matter rest.

“We ought to get on with our lives,” Trump told reporters Wednesday.

Trump has rejected conclusions from the Department of Homeland Security and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that the Russian government was behind the hacks of computer systems and emails belonging to Democratic Party officials.

The Obama administration should produce more evidence about the hacking, Sean Spicer, Trump’s incoming White House press secretary, told reporters earlier Thursday.

“If the United States has clear proof of anyone interfering with our elections, we should make that known,” Spicer said. “Right now we need to see further facts,” he said.

Spicer suggested accusations about Russia’s influence on the presidential election are politically motivated to undercut Trump’s mandate.

“You have a lot of folks on the left who continue to undermine the legitimacy of his win and the nature of how big that win was, and that is unfortunate,” Spicer said.