GOP in Congress blocks most responses to summit

WASHINGTON — Republicans in Congress blocked a series of measures put forward Thursday by lawmakers — most of them Democrats — who are desperate to isolate Republican leaders and publicly rebuke President Donald Trump over his summit meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

In the Senate, Republicans objected to two nonbinding measures that would have put the body on record as being in support of intelligence-agency conclusions that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, called on Trump to fully impose sanctions against Russia, and pressed for oversight of the summit meeting, including the production of any notes taken by Americans.

“If ever there was a moment to think not of just your party but for the country, this is it,” Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., implored his colleagues before his bipartisan resolution was shot down.

After the White House press secretary said that Trump was not considering a Putin proposal to make a former U.S. ambassador available to Russian authorities for questioning, senators voted 98-0 in favor of a third nonbinding resolution expressing opposition to the Russian leader’s suggestion.

“With this vote, the Senate has sent a message that is free from all ambiguity: Americans will not be handed over to Putin on our watch,” said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii. “Those who serve our nation do not answer to the Russian president, and they have the support of a thankful nation.”

In the House, Democrats sought to push many of the same points with different tactics, but saw no more success. Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee voted down a request to subpoena testimony from the State Department interpreter who accompanied Trump into his private meeting with Putin. And on the House floor, Republicans blocked a Democratic effort to add hundreds of millions of dollars in grant funding for election security to a spending bill.

“The flashing red light calls us to action,” said Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the No. 2 House Democrat. “Surely we can rise above pandering to party and Putin to act on behalf of our freedom and our security.”