U.S. sanctions seven Russians

WASHINGTON — The United States issued new economic sanctions on Monday against seven Russians linked to an internet troll factory in what Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called a warning to foreigners who seek to interfere in U.S. elections.

The penalties were announced as Congress is investigating whether President Donald Trump tried to enlist Ukraine’s leader in a political smear campaign against one of his top Democratic challengers in 2020, former Vice President Joe Biden.

“We have been clear: We will not tolerate foreign interference in our elections,” Pompeo said in a sharp statement.

The Treasury Department said the sanctions sought to punish attempts to influence the 2018 midterm elections, in which Democrats won control of the House. Early last year, the Justice Department indicted 13 Russians and companies linked to the Internet Research Agency on charges of meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

Among the people indicted was Yevgeny V. Prigozhin, an oligarch who is close to President Vladimir Putin of Russia and finances the Internet Research Agency with the Kremlin’s backing. The Treasury Department also imposed sanctions on six employees of the agency.