US Senators introduce DETER bill – sanctions for election interference

Last week US senators Marco Rubio and Chris Van Hollen introduced the Defending Elections from Threats by Establishing Redlines Bill (DETER) seeking to deter foreign actors from interfering in US elections by threatening increased sanctions on Russia’s banking, energy and defence sectors and sovereign debt.  A similar measure was introduced last year but never came to a vote.

Sanctions would be imposed under DETER if the US Director of National Intelligence determined that Russia or another foreign government had engaged in election interference.  See Press Release and Bill, which has been referred to the House’s Committee for study.