ROBERT MUELLER/RUSSIA/SANCTIONS/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “The recent federal indictment of Russian intelligence officers by the special prosecutor investigating Moscow’s election interference and possible Trump campaign collusion lays the groundwork for Washington to slap more sanctions on its former Cold War foe. The question is whether President Donald Trump will levy them. Special counsel Robert Mueller’s indictment of 12 officers from two cyber units in Russia’s military-intelligence agency, the Main Intelligence Directorate of General Staff, or GRU, provides the evidentiary basis the Treasury Department needs to impose new sanctions. A law passed last year by Congress and signed by Mr. Trump, along with existing executive orders, mandate punitive measures in response to Kremlin election interference, cyberattacks and military interventions in Ukraine and Syria. The new law, known as Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, or Caatsa, was invoked after Mr. Mueller in February obtained indictments against several Russian companies and citizens for their alleged involvement in election interference. In that instance, the Treasury Department sanctioned the defendants.”
–Ian Talley, “Will Sanctions Follow Russia Indictments? Trump Holds Sway,” The Wall Street Journal, July 22, 2018 2:10 pm