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President Trump, seen here in an archive photo, issued an order on Wednesday's election intervention. (Jabin Botsford / The Washington Post)
Felicia Sonmez
National reporter on Washington Post's new political team
President Trump on Wednesday issued a new order authorizing additional sanctions against countries or individuals for their interference in the upcoming US elections, but lawmakers from both parties immediately said that this effort does not go far enough.
The order would allow Trump to punish foreigners who intervene in mid-term elections in less than two months. Daniel Coats, director of national intelligence, told reporters that he was covering efforts to get involved with the electoral infrastructure, such as vote counting, propaganda and other attempts to get the ball rolling. influence the vote abroad.
The most severe penalties set out in the order would be at the discretion of the President.
As the Washington Post reported for the first time in August, the order appears to be an effort to avoid bipartite legislation that would require strong federal action.
National Security Advisor John Bolton said the criticism that Trump had been too deferential to Russia or that his views on Russian electoral interference had been "nil" in the new action.
Trump has repeatedly stated that he wants to fight foreign interference, said Bolton, and that the United States has already sanctioned Russian individuals and entities.
"I think his actions speak for themselves," Bolton said.
Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) And Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) Immediately issued a joint statement calling the White House's efforts inadequate and calling on Congress to pass tougher legislation now.
"The announcement today by the administration recognizes the threat, but does not go far enough to remedy it," they wrote. "The United States can and must do more," as the mandatory sanctions attached to the legislation they proposed, wrote the senators.
"We need to make sure that Vladimir Putin's Russia, or any other foreign player, understands that we will react decisively and impose punitive consequences on those who are interfering in our democracy."
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