RUSSIA SANCTIONS
Trump, Congress to face off
President Donald Trump is facing a showdown with Congress this week after Republicans and Democrats agreed upon new sanctions on Russia designed to punish the Kremlin for interfering in last year’s U.S. election.
The sweeping package, also intended to penalize Russia for its military aggression in Ukraine and Syria, set up a collision course with the White House, which has sought to ease relations with Moscow.
Trump has consistently made overtures to President Vladimir Putin amid ongoing FBI and congressional investigations into any links between Russia and his campaign.
The sanctions bill is expected to pass Tuesday, leading to Trump’s first big decision on whether to veto an important piece of legislation. The White House objects to a key section that would allow Congress to review any future decision by Trump to amend or discontinue Russian sanctions.
He would have to submit a report to Congress on any actions he proposes that would “significantly alter” U.S. foreign policy on Russia. That would include lifting sanctions or returning two Russian diplomatic compounds in Maryland and New York, which President Barack Obama ordered to be closed down in one of his final acts.
Congress would have 30 days to decide whether to allow any sanctions changes proposed by Trump.
Politicians on both sides concerned by Trump’s statements on Russia argued that this would send a message to the president to take a tougher line with Putin.
But White House officials said it would tie the president’s hands, and that he needs the capability to alter sanctions depending on how diplomatic relations with Russia develop.
Sarah Sanders, the new press secretary, told ABC News: “The administration is supportive of being tough on Russia, particularly in putting these sanctions in place, and we support the legislation where it is now.”
But Anthony Scaramucci, Trump’s new communications director, told CNN: “You’ve got to ask President Trump that. He hasn’t made the decision yet to sign that bill one way or the other.”
If Trump vetoes the bill, it would lead to an outcry among Democrats and Republicans. The lifting of Russian sanctions is at the heart of inquiries into whether there was collusion between anyone connected to the Trump campaign and Moscow last year.
Investigators are trying to establish what was said at a meeting between a Russian lawyer and Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr., his son-in-law Jared Kushner, and then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort on June 9, 2016.
All three men are due to speak to the Senate Judiciary Committee, which is investigating, this week.
U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia hacked the Democratic National Committee during the election and released emails embarrassing to Hillary Clinton with the intention of helping Trump.
Scaramucci revealed the president was still not convinced that Russia was behind the cyber attack.
Speaking on Sunday, Scaramucci said: “Somebody told me yesterday that if the Russians actually hacked this situation and spilled out the emails, you would never have seen it, never had any evidence of them, meaning they’re super confident in their deception skills and hacking. Maybe they did it, maybe they didn’t.”
Asked who had told him that, he said: “The president. He called me from Air Force One.”
The sanctions bill targets the energy sector, making it more difficult for U.S. companies to be part of projects that also include Russian businesses, but American oil and natural gas companies have warned that could backfire on them and benefit Russia.
It also includes stiff economic penalties against Iran and North Korea, which the White House is in favour of.
Sen. Ben Cardin, the leading Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said agreement on the sanctions was reached after “intense negotiations.”
He said: “A nearly united Congress is poised to send President Putin a clear message on behalf of the American people and our allies, and we need President Trump to help us deliver that message.”
However, the European Commission warned of possible “wide and indiscriminate” ramifications for its efforts to diversify energy sources away from Russia, and called on Washington to co-ordinate with its G7 partners, including Canada.
WE NEED PRESIDENT TRUMP TO HELP US DELIVER THAT MESSAGE.