Republicans respond to Russia sanctions with disbelief over tactics and timing
By David Weigel December 29 at 7:35 PM
The Obama administration's move to name and sanction more Russians it accused of hacking Democratic campaign organizations had been previewed for days in leaks to reporters. But as they issued statements and appeared on news shows Thursday, Republicans offered a wide range of responses, from praise for the administration to praise for the hackers for revealing the inner workings of the Hillary Clinton campaign.
Many Republicans limned their praise for the sanctions with criticism of the Obama-era foreign policy. "While today’s action by the administration is overdue,” said House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (Wis.), "it is an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia.”
Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, said in a statement that he had urged action “for years” and did not give Obama credit for acting in the last weeks of his administration. “This kind of indecision and delay helps to explain why now, at the end of Obama’s eight-year presidency, America’s influence has collapsed among both our allies and our enemies,” he said.
Some back-bench Republicans refrained from criticizing Russia. Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), a conservative from a deep red district, said on MSNBC that it was important to note that no one accused Russia of hacking the election itself. (Some misleading headlines have given that impression, and polling has shown that nearly half of Clinton voters are willing to believe in such a hack.)
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