The Trump administration has slapped sanctions on Russian individuals and entities, accusing them of interfering in the 2016 presidential election and carrying out cyber-attacks. <br /> The U.S. Treasury Department announced Thursday that the sanctions target 19 individuals and five entities, marking the strongest action against Moscow since Trump took office. <br />The White House has long been accused of being too soft on the Kremlin and failing to use its congressionally mandated authority to punish Russia. <br />Of the 19 Russians, 13 of them were indicted last month by special counsel Robert Mueller, whose Russia investigation the president has repeatedly sought to discredit.<br />Those listed will be subject to an asset freeze in the United States.<br />They will also be banned from accessing the U.S. financial system, though Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin did not say when the measures will be imposed. <br />Moscow says it has already begun drawing up retaliatory measures. <br />
