Here’s what you need to know about Russia’s election hacking

CIA headquarters in Langley, Va. (Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images)

The CIA and the FBI have concluded that Russia intervened in the 2016 election to help the campaign of Donald Trump. The Obama administration announced on Thursday a set of sanctions against Russia.

Here is the latest:

• On Friday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry recommended expelling 35 U.S. diplomats in a tit-for-tat response to U.S. sanctions.
• Putin has rejected that recommendation, saying: “We won’t create problems for American diplomats.”
• The Obama administration ordered the removal of 35 Russian government officials from the United States on Thursday.
• The executive order signed by President Obama on Thursday places sanctions on nine agencies and individuals related to the hacks.
• The State Department will also close two Russian government-owned compounds, one in Maryland and one in New York.
• The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security on Thursday released technical information on the Russian hacking.
• President-elect Donald Trump has called the allegations “absolute nonsense” and told reporters that “I think we ought to get on with our lives.” He reiterated that sentiment on Thursday, but said he will “meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation.”

Here’s what you need to know about Russia’s election meddling:

• U.S. intelligence suggests Russia helped Trump win the presidency and that the Kremlin’s hacking efforts were disproportionately aimed at the Democratic Party.
• Previously, the U.S. intelligence community had said that Moscow’s goals were limited to disrupting the election.
• U.S. officials believe a Russian military spy agency hacked the Democratic National Committee and provided WikiLeaks with thousands of emails.
• Officials say the Russian government also “breached” the Republican National Committee’s computer systems, but are less certain whether the hackers were able to extract information. The RNC denies it was hacked.
• The CIA and the FBI initially had differing opinions on Russia’s motives that some say can be attributed to their culture: The bureau seeks tangible evidence to prove something beyond all reasonable doubt, while the CIA is more comfortable drawing inferences from behavior. The FBI has since accepted the CIA’s assessment.
• The Obama administration has ordered a “full review” of the Russian hacking during the campaign. The investigation is led by Director of National Intelligence James R. Clapper Jr. The administration promises to make the report public.

What to look for in the next few weeks and months:

• The scramble in Congress to try to grapple with the repercussions. Members of both parties have called for a public House-Senate inquiry leading to a public release of the findings.
• The impact of the report commissioned by the Obama administration once it is released. The report could pose a challenge to Trump, putting him at odds with the intelligence community. Obama wants the review to be completed before he leaves office next month.

This file will be regularly updated.

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