Obama administration announces sanctions against Russia for 2016 election hacks

The Obama administration has announced sanctions against Russian entities and individuals in retaliation for Russian state hacking efforts aimed at influencing the 2016 presidential election.

The Obama administration struck back at Russia on Thursday for its efforts to influence the 2016 election, ejecting 35 Russian intelligence operatives from the United States and imposing sanctions on Russia’s two leading intelligence services, including four top officers of the military intelligence unit the White House believes ordered the attacks on the Democratic National Committee and other political organizations.

This may be only the initial wave of the response; according to the Times, evidence may also be released "linking the cyberattacks to computer systems used by Russian intelligence."

The executive order authorizing the sanctions can be found here.

Thursday, Dec 29, 2016 · 7:20:46 PM +00:00 · Hunter

Bloomberg:

[A] joint report will include newly declassified information exposing the internet infrastructure that Russia used in the cyberattacks, including malware and computer addresses, according to the official who asked asked not to be identified before the report is made public.

Thursday, Dec 29, 2016 · 7:26:39 PM +00:00 · Hunter

In a statement, Obama says these actions “are not the sum total of our response” and that further actions will be taken, “some of which will not be publicized.” Two Russian diplomatic offices in New York and Maryland linked to Russian cyber operations will also be permanently closed.