Obama vows to punish Russia over election-related hacks
Obama is hopeful incoming president Donald Trump will take the hacking seriously
U.S. President Barack Obama pledged to punish Russia for hacking of Democratic groups and figures during the election season with actions that’ll occur in secret and others that’ll be made public.
“Our goal continues to be to send a clear message to Russia or others not to do this to us because we can do stuff to you,” Obama said in a press conference.
The President stopped short of explicitly blaming Russian president Vladimir Putin for directing the alleged hacks, but said that, “not much happens in Russia without Vladimir Putin.”
Obama met Putin during a summit in China in September and told him to "cut it out" and or else "there would be some serious consequences if he didn't," he said. After that meeting, the hacking attempts stopped but Wikileaks had already been given copies of stolen documents.
Obama is vowing action against Russia when incoming president Donald Trump likely won’t. Trump has instead dismissed claims that the Russian government interfered with the U.S. election to help him win.
Nevertheless, the Obama administration has ordered U.S. intelligence agencies to provide a report reviewing Russia’s alleged role in the election interference. The President intends to make as much of that report public as possible.
On Friday, reports said the FBI is siding with the CIA and has concluded Russia attempted to influence the U.S. election to help Trump win.
Obama said he want to avoid avoid politicizing the findings and hopes that Trump will share concern over the Kremlin’s effort to influence the election.
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