Endorsements and editorials are made solely by the ownership of this newspaper. As is the case at most newspapers across the nation, The Spokesman-Review newsroom and its editors are not a part of this endorsement process. (Learn more.)

Russian meddling calls for tougher sanctions

Thu., June 29, 2017

The following editorial appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

President Donald Trump seems to want it both ways when it comes to Russian election meddling. In the months before Nov. 8, when polls were indicating an easy victory for Democrat Hillary Clinton, Trump invited Russian hacking and often publicly complained that the vote was rigged. In a way, he was right.

At the time, President Barack Obama was receiving classified intelligence indicating that the Russian government was hacking emails and engaged in an orchestrated campaign of subversion to taint Clinton’s credibility and help Trump’s chances of being elected. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the campaign, the Washington Post has reported.

At a minimum, the Russians succeeded in their broader objective to undermine confidence in the U.S. electoral system. Trump, perhaps unknowingly, assisted that effort with his repeated challenging of the election’s legitimacy.

But, lo and behold, he won. Afterward, Trump spent months denouncing as “fake news” the reports about Russian meddling and FBI investigations of links between Russia and his campaign operatives.

Trump changed his tune last weekend, embracing the outlines of a Washington Post report about Obama’s decision-making when confronted with intelligence about the hacking campaign. Obama reportedly opted not to make a major public pronouncement until after the vote to avoid appearing to sway the outcome.

“The reason that President Obama did NOTHING about Russia after being notified by the CIA of meddling is that he expected Clinton would win,” Trump tweeted. “ . and did not want to ‘rock the boat.’ He didn’t ‘choke,’ he colluded or obstructed, and it did the Dems and Crooked Hillary no good.”

Obama had no good choices. To reveal what the CIA knew about Russian interference on behalf of Trump undoubtedly would have harmed Trump’s campaign and sent the candidate into a frenzy of accusations. Remaining silent would mean effectively letting Putin get away with it.

Then-FBI Director James Comey faced similarly difficult options. Just before the election, he opted to release a damning statement about reopening an investigation into Clinton’s email exchanges involving her private server. The statement stunned her campaign and prompted accusations that Comey, a Republican, was trying to influence the election.

Shortly after the vote, Obama announced stiff sanctions against Russia, including expulsion of 35 diplomats and closure of two Russian compounds on the East Coast. Trump now reportedly is considering easing those sanctions.

He must accept that Russia has egregiously violated American sovereignty. This isn’t about election politics; it’s about responding resolutely to an attack by a known foreign aggressor. All Americans, regardless of party affiliation, must regard any easing of sanctions as sending the worst possible message to Putin.

That is, unless Trump intends to send a message of thanks to Putin for a job well done.