seen removing suspected equipment. >> what these individuals were doing were basically collecting intelligence. they were intelligence officers operating here and using these compounds, one in new york, one in maryland, for intelligence collection purposes. >> russia immediately accused the u.s. of illegally seizing diplomatic property. now, with a new president in office, russia wants the compounds back and says its patience is running out. it is best to immediately return our property, the foreign ministry spokeswoman said, otherwise russia has the right to come up with a tit-for-tat response in relation to american property in russia. i want to confirm that the retaliatory measures are in the works. the administration is weighing the possibility of softening sanctions and returning the mansions, though there's been no final decision. >> my counsel to the president would be, again, it's difficult to imagine a circumstance where that would be useful to u.s. interests.