Top Dem says Obama shares responsibility for Russia's meddling

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration's muted response to the 2014 Sony hack may have laid the groundwork for Russia's meddling in the 2016 elections, a top Democrat argued Friday.

Rep. Adam Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said the previous administration should have established a "more forceful deterrent" against potential adversaries considering cyber attacks against the U.S. or its institutions.

In late 2014 Sony Pictures confirmed it had been the victim of a "brazen cyber attack" that led to the personal data of current and former employees and their families being exposed.

U.S. officials blamed North Korea, saying the attack was likely a response to the planned release of a comedy film depicting a fictional plot to assassinate Kim Jong Un. The administration responded — publicly at least — only with additional economic sanctions, rather than a similar cyber retaliation.

"I think that others around the world watched that and determined that cyber is a cost-free intervention," Schiff said during an interview with NBC's Andrea Mitchell at the Council on Foreign Relations.

SOURCE :- aol