Levying sanctions would require the White House to publicly accuse Russia, or Russian-backed hackers, of committing the breach and then leaking embarrassing information, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and US intelligence agencies have been studying the Democratic hacks, and several officials have claimed it was almost certainly carried out by Russian-affiliated hackers. Russia has strongly denied any involvement, but several cybersecurity companies have also released reports tying the breach to Russian hackers.
On Thursday, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) told reporters, regarding a breach of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which spearheads the Democratic House campaigns: “I know for sure it is the Russians” and “we are assessing the damage.”
She added, “This is an electronic Watergate…The Russians broke in. Who did they give the information to? I don’t know. Who dumped it? I don’t know.”
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has publicly disavowed any connection to the hacking of the Democratic National Committee and other groups. “It is so far-fetched,” Trump said at a news conference last month. “It’s so ridiculous. Honestly, I wish I had that power.”
Rep. Adam Schiff (D., Calif.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said his panel was briefed on the matter last week and that he is among those urging that “when the administration believes it has sufficient evidence of attribution, it will make that attribution public as well as consider any other steps necessary.”
The process of deciding on sanctions could be lengthy. Even if US officials have concluded the hackers were Russian-backed, they must decide to disclose that publicly—then weigh a range of possible reactions.
The US and Russia are at odds over a variety of issues, from the war in Syria to Moscow’s annexation of Crimea, and US officials must decide whether this episode is worth exacerbating those tensions.