Democrats and a handful of Republicans are rallying around a bill designed to prevent President Donald Trump from lifting sanctions on Russia without congressional approval.
The measure, introduced by House Democrats Wednesday and supported by at least three Republicans, would give Congress 120 days to block lifting any sanctions on Russia imposed in response to actions in Ukraine and Russia’s efforts to interference in the 2016 election.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-California, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said questions about the Trump campaign’s alleged communications with Russian officials ahead of the election makes the proposed legislation “all the more important.”
“If there were condoned discussions that Flynn had or he was acting as free agent, this president shouldn’t have ability to eliminate Russian sanctions,” he said at the Democrats’ press conference.
“It’s obvious and clear that Putin is testing the new administration,” said Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York. “The last thing that the U.S. should consider is dialing back sanctions on Russia.”
Late last month, Trump said it was “very early to be talking about” lifting sanctions on Russia, but “if we can have a great relationship with Russia and with China, and with all countries, I’m all for that.”
A bipartisan group of senators led by Sens. Ben Cardin, D-Maryland, and Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, recently introduced an identical bill in the Senate.
Source-ABC
