Political Junkie

Political Junkie

Get breaking news stories and important updates around the 2016 Presidential Election race

 

Trump Administration Slaps New Sanctions On Russia

The Trump administration Thursday imposed new financial sanctions on Russian government hackers and spy agencies as part of an effort to punish Moscow for interfering in the 2016 presidential election.

The sanctions target about two dozen Russian individuals and entities including 13 Russians indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller. Among the entities sanctioned by the Treasury Department is the "Internet Research Agency," that officials say act as a propaganda outfit, using fake identities to post online as Americans on social media to intentionally stir up trouble during the election.

In a statement, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the sanctions are meant to confront and counter the Russian cyber attacks and serve as a warning to keep out of the 2018 midterms. 

"The Administration is confronting and countering malign Russian cyber activity, including their attempted interference in U.S. elections, destructive cyber-attacks, and intrusions targeting critical infrastructure,” said Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin.  

"These targeted sanctions are a part of a broader effort to address the ongoing nefarious attacks emanating from Russia.  Treasury intends to impose additional CAATSA sanctions, informed by our intelligence community, to hold Russian government officials and oligarchs accountable for their destabilizing activities by severing their access to the U.S. financial system.” 

The sanctions were passed by Congress and signed by Trump last year. Assets of Russian agents held in U.S. dollars will be frozen and U.S. citizens will be prevented from doing business with them. 

The statement from Mnuchin also warned Russia about their use of a nerve agent to poison a former spy in the United Kingdom. 

 The recent use of a military-grade nerve agent in an attempt to murder two UK citizens further demonstrates the reckless and irresponsible conduct of its government.

Sergie Skripal and his daughter Yulia were found poisoned in the English town of Salisbury earlier this month. The UK's Prime Minister revealed the nerve agent used was a military-grade chemical weapon developed by Russia and banned by an international treaty. 

Sen. John Cornyn said that it's time to get serious about how Russia is acting on the international stage. 

"They're out of control, Russia is." Cornyn said. "And that needs to be dealt with, one way or the other. And this is one way for us to discourage that." 

The Trump administration also warned on Thursday that Russia is targeting the U.S. energy grid with cyber attacks and malware in an effort to sabotage the system. Officials say Russian hackers have "conducted network reconnaissance" of industrial control systems that run factories in the U.S.

Authorities say they've helped several companies kick the Russian hackers out of all systems known to be penetrated. 

Photo: Getty Images


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content