President Donald Trump’s abrupt decision to waive sanctions on Russia days before they were to take effect drew outrage Saturday from members of Congress, which had overwhelmingly passed the legislation in a bipartisan display of American support for Ukraine in the war with Russia.
- “What part of enforcing a law passed 86-11 by the Senate does the President and his advisors not understand? Trump recently announced a diesel deal with Putin to import Russian energy in a long-shot effort to curb high gas prices in the U.S. that are roiling the midterm elections on Nov.
“Beyond irresponsible,” said Sen. Tillis said. John Cornyn of Texas said “Lindsey would be appalled,” referring to the late Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., said Trump is “thumbing his nose” at Congress and “enabling Vladimir Putin to continue his war of aggression.
Lawmakers from both parties blasted the executive order late Friday, the latest in a series of steps that the Republican president has taken drawing the United States closer to Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., on social media, hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed hope that the sanctions that were supposed to take effect Sunday targeting Russian’s economy could be revived. “It’s unconscionable that this administration is capitulating to a Russian dictator who illegally invaded Ukraine. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who worked endlessly on the bill before he died this summer. The bill is known as the Lindsey Graham Russian Sanctions Act. Sen. She urged her colleagues to take action to reverse course.
Trump said he was waiving the sanctions indefinitely, citing national security concerns. The next steps are highly uncertain with the House and Senate are on recess until after Election Day. It is unlikely Congress would be in a position to take any action to challenge Trump’s moves until lawmakers return to Washington.
Gregory Meeks, the ranking Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee who had led opposition to the Graham bill — warning that Trump would flout the law — introduced legislation Friday that would block Trump’s diesel deal with Putin.
“At a time when the United States should be increasing pressure on the Kremlin, Donald Trump is cozying up to Putin and striking self-enriching deals instead of standing with Ukraine,” Meeks said in a statement. New York Rep.
