US Further Punishes Russia for Cyberattacks, Election Meddling  

WHITE HOUSE - The United States cannot allow a foreign power to intervene with impunity in American elections, President Joe Biden said Thursday, after he took action to punish Russia for that and a major cyberattack.  

"Today I've approved several steps, including expulsion of several Russian officials, as a consequence of their actions," Biden said at the White House. "I've also signed an executive order authorizing new measures, including sanctions to address specific harmful actions that Russia has taken against U.S. interests."  Biden said he told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call earlier this week that he could have gone further but chose to be proportionate and does not seek to escalate tensions between Washington and Moscow.   "If Russia continues to interfere with our democracy, I'm prepared to take further actions to respond," he added.