US blames Russia for hacking political sites

The U.S. on Friday blamed the Russian government for the hacking of political sites and accused Moscow of trying to interfere with the upcoming presidential election.

Pressure has been mounting on the Obama administration to call out Russia for the hacking of U.S. political sites and email accounts. The hacking claim Friday was another setback in already strained U.S.-Russia relations.

The White House declined to say whether the formal attribution would trigger sanctions against Russia. A senior Obama administration official said the U.S. would respond “at a time and place of our choosing,” but any retaliation may not take place in the open.

The official said the public won’t necessarily know what actions the U.S. has already taken or will take in the future against Russia in cyberspace. The official wasn’t authorized to comment by name and requested anonymity.

Federal officials are investigating cyberattacks at the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Election data systems in at least two states also have been breached.

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