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 on Dec. 29, 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.”
