buzzz worthy. . .By Mona Austin
The 35 Russian diplomats who were expelled from the U.S. under President Barack Obama's sanctions against Russia have left. The U.S. State Department confirmed a Russian plane picked up the suspected spies and their families,who the U.S. government has marked as persona non grata, at Dulles Airport in Sterling, VA on Dec. 31.
Obama said he was confident in U.S. intelligence that revealed Russian leader Vladmir Putin was personally involved in cyber attacks that were aimed at helping Donald Trump win the U.S. presidential election. Obama's response came as a result of an FBI investigation into the situation that he said yielded proof that Russia was behind hacked DNC emails.
By Thursday of last week Mr. Obama disclosed retaliatory penalties he would impose against the country with which he has had a strained relationship over his time in office. In addition to kicking out diplomats from the Russian embassy,Russian compounds were shut down in Maryland and New York.
From obtaining intelligence from whistle blower Edwin Snowden to annexing Primea from the Ukraine, Russia continues to be a "frenemy" that is a threat to U.S. national security.
Both Putin and Trump have denied the allegations. Putin said Obama is trying to hurt Russian American The Associated Press reports Trump could easily drop the sanctions against one of the country' leading adversaries once he takes office. The sanctions were imposed through an Executive Order, which may mean Trump can rescind them.
“It's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things,” Trump said in reply to the sanctions. “Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation."
GOP Senators John McCain (AZ) and Lindsey Graham (SC) were both in favor of the sanctions.
The 35 Russian diplomats who were expelled from the U.S. under President Barack Obama's sanctions against Russia have left. The U.S. State Department confirmed a Russian plane picked up the suspected spies and their families,who the U.S. government has marked as persona non grata, at Dulles Airport in Sterling, VA on Dec. 31.
Obama said he was confident in U.S. intelligence that revealed Russian leader Vladmir Putin was personally involved in cyber attacks that were aimed at helping Donald Trump win the U.S. presidential election. Obama's response came as a result of an FBI investigation into the situation that he said yielded proof that Russia was behind hacked DNC emails.
By Thursday of last week Mr. Obama disclosed retaliatory penalties he would impose against the country with which he has had a strained relationship over his time in office. In addition to kicking out diplomats from the Russian embassy,Russian compounds were shut down in Maryland and New York.
From obtaining intelligence from whistle blower Edwin Snowden to annexing Primea from the Ukraine, Russia continues to be a "frenemy" that is a threat to U.S. national security.
Both Putin and Trump have denied the allegations. Putin said Obama is trying to hurt Russian American The Associated Press reports Trump could easily drop the sanctions against one of the country' leading adversaries once he takes office. The sanctions were imposed through an Executive Order, which may mean Trump can rescind them.
“It's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things,” Trump said in reply to the sanctions. “Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation."
GOP Senators John McCain (AZ) and Lindsey Graham (SC) were both in favor of the sanctions.