Bipartisan group pushes ‘crushing’ sanctions to thwart Russia

WASHINGTON — For much of the past year, as President Donald Trump has belittled NATO, sought warmer relations with the Kremlin and questioned his own intelligence services about Russia’s election interference campaign, Congress’ response has been little more than rhetorical.

A bipartisan group of influential senators is proposing to change that.

Led by Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., , the group introduced legislation this week to impose “crushing” new punishments on President Vladimir Putin of Russia and his associates. The bill would also cut off Trump’s ability to remove the United States from NATO without the support of the Senate and write into law new international deterrence programs meant to serve as a governmentwide response to Russian aggression.

The legislation, which counts Sen. John Mccain, R-ariz., and three prominent Democrats among its supporters, is one of the biggest efforts to date by Congress to wrestle back some authority to shape foreign policy. Its authors said senators from both parties were already asking to sponsor the measure.

Whether it could actually become law is another question. Republican leaders on Capitol Hill have been averse to intervening too aggressively in Trump’s decisions. The House’s monthlong recess, a booked legislative agenda for the fall and the impending midterm elections will certainly not help.