White House: Obama Believes a Proportional Response to Russian Interference in Election Is Warranted

‘You Didn’t Need a Security Clearance to Find Out Who Benefitted From Malicious Russian Cyber Activity’

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest says President Barack Obama believes a proportional response to Russia’s intervention in the U.S. Election is warranted, but he will not say what that will be or when it will occur. Washington Blade chief White House reporter Chris Johnson first made the remarks public via Twitter Monday afternoon:

The press secretary told reporters he would not be able to discuss what the response is or was, suggesting it might have already been taken, or could be coming in the future.

Earnest also pushed back against those who try to claim it’s unclear the Russia was working in support of Trump:

The White House in October had said President Obama was weighing a range of proportional responses to Russia’s interference in the U.S. election. 

“The president has talked before about the significant capabilities that the U.S. government has to both defend our systems in the United States but also carry out offensive operations in other countries,” Earnest said October 11, as The New York Times reported then. “There are a range of responses that are available to the president, and he will consider a response that is proportional.”

The entire press briefing can be viewed below: