US senators: Russia should be sanctioned for election hacks
Source: Associated Press
THURSDAY, DEC 29, 2016 09:45 AM EST
WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. senators visiting eastern European allies to discuss security issues called for sanctions against Russia for interfering in the presidential election by hacking American political sites and email accounts. Their demands came amid ongoing discussions among U.S. officials on an imminent response that would ensure the U.S. takes action against Russia before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
We have to sanction Russia for these cyberattacks (and) send a clear message to the incoming administration that there is a lot of bipartisan support in Congress for going after this, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., told The Associated Press by phone from Latvia.
Klobuchar joined Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., in their visits to some of Russias neighbors the Baltic states, Ukraine and Georgia as well as Montenegro.
Russian officials have denied the Obama administrations accusation that the highest levels of the Russian government were involved in trying to influence the U.S. presidential election. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russias goal was to help Trump win an assessment Trump has dismissed as ridiculous.
Read more: http://www.salon.com/2016/12/29/us-senators-russia-should-be-sanctioned-for-election-hacks/