Russians destroyed and removed material from shuttered compounds, officials say
Source: cbs
By Julianna Goldman, Pat Milton, Laura Strickler CBS News June 23, 2017, 5:11 PM
A Russian compound, which was ordered to be closed and vacated, is seen in Upper Brookville, Long Island, New York, on Dec. 30, 2016.
Reuters/Rashid Umar Abbasi
WASHINGTON -- When U.S. officials entered shuttered Russian compounds in Maryland and New York last December, they found damaged materials that could have been used in intelligence gathering and that former officials say could have been useful in the ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
The compounds, which had been used for decades as retreats for Russian diplomats, were shut down by the Obama administration as part of a package of punitive measures in response to Russia's meddling in the election. The White House expelled 35 diplomats, saying at the time they were targeted because of ongoing harassment of U.S. personnel in Russia.
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In December, President Barack Obama said the compounds were "used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes." Current and former officials describe the facilities as significant listening posts and centers of intelligence gathering, backing up concerns that they were part of the election interference infrastructure.
Last month, the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration was moving toward handing back the compounds. The Senate last week passed a bill in a 98-2 vote that would impose additional sanctions on Russia for its election activities. The measure includes a provision requiring congressional approval over any move by the administration to return the compounds back to the Russians.
Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/russians-destroyed-and-removed-material-from-shuttered-compounds-officials-say/#
Was pleasantly surprised to see that republicans voted to get Congress permission before trump can lift the sanctions to re-open these compounds to the Russians
= new reply since forum marked as read
And I still remember the day late in the summer of 1968--just after the Soviet crackdown in Czechoslovakia--when mom drove past the wooded estate darkly intoning, "that's where we let the Reds vacation!"
Wouldn't she be surprised today to see the compound closed but the "last Soviet superman" trying to run America through an orange-faced, towheaded puppet?
The sanctions against Russia should be tripled. 
