The Independent View: Trump Mandates Sanctioning Foreign Governments that Interfere in U.S. Elections

President Trump on Wednesday Signed an Executive Order Mandating that Sanctions be placed on Foreign Entities or Individuals determined to have Interfered with or have Assisted with Interference in U.S. Elections. The Oorder, which comes just weeks ahead of November’s Midterm Elections, will direct U.S. Intelligence Agencies to Investigate whether the Election Meddling took place.

The Sanctions would Automatically be Triggered against a Foreign Government if they are Found to have Interfered or Influenced Elections. “This clearly is a process put in place to try and ensure we are doing every possible thing we can to prevent any interference in our election,” Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said.

Trump has previously faced Criticism for not being Tough enough against Russia after the U.S. Intelligence Community concluded that Moscow had Influenced the 2016 Presidential Election, and the New Measure could be an attempt to show a sign of Force ahead of the upcoming Midterms.

Congress is also considering Several Pieces of Legislation that would Punish Foreign Countries for Interfering in U.S. Elections. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines (DETER) Act earlier this year, which would penalize Russia or other foreign governments that try to interfere in U.S. elections.

Rubio and Van Hollen said in a Joint Statement Wednesday that while the Executive Order Acknowledges the Threat of Foreign Election Interference, it “does not go far enough to address it.” “Mandatory sanctions on anyone who attacks our electoral systems serve as the best deterrent, which is the central tenant of the bipartisan DETER Act,” the Senators said. “We must make sure Vladimir Putin’s Russia, or any other foreign actor, understands that we will respond decisively and impose punishing consequences against those who interfere in our democracy. With only 55 days until the midterm elections, we urge our colleagues to send a clear and unified message to our adversaries by quickly passing this legislation.”

The White House had been in touch with Rubio’s Office in the days before the Order was Signed, and that Administration Officials told the Senator's Aides that the Bipartisan Legislation had Influenced the Language in the Order. An Aide for Van Hollen said that the Senator’s Office has had Extensive Conversations with the Administration regarding the Order.

The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday is also set to consider a Bill by Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Dick Durbin (D-IL), also known as the DETER Act, that would Block Foreign Nationals who have sought to Interfere in U.S. Elections from entering the Country.

Graham, alongside Sen. Bob Menendez (D-NJ), also introduced a Bill earlier this month that would Slap Massive Financial Sanctions against Russia, citing Election Interference.

This Executive Order does not go as far as the Senate Bills. Trump's Order only deals with the Foreign Entities or Individual, The Senate Bills adds the Country.