The Trump administration announced Monday [January 29, 2018] it is not going to implement sanctions against companies and individuals doing business with Russian defense and intelligence sectors.
Under a bipartisan law passed 98-2 in the Senate to punish Russia for interfering in the 2016 presidential election and other abuses, the administration was required to release by Monday a list of blacklisted Russian companies and individuals, but a State Department official said foreign governments and individuals are instead being put "on notice" that "significant transactions with listed Russian entities will result in sanctions. Sanctions on specific entities or individuals will not need to be imposed because the legislation is, in fact, serving as a deterrent."
The announcement frustrated Democrats like Rep. Eliot Engel (N.Y.), who said in a statement he's "fed up waiting for this administration to protect our country and our elections. They've now shown us they won't act, so it's time for Congress to do more. The Trump administration had a decision to make whether they would follow the law and crack down on those responsible for attacking American democracy in 2016. They chose instead to let Russia off the hook yet again." President Trump has repeatedly defended Russia against allegations that the country meddled in the election, despite U.S. intelligence agencies saying otherwise.
The Week, January 29, 2018
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January 31, 201
Post Script.A Constituitional Crisis in the making? Here are some more reactions to Trump refusing to obey Congress.
First - some American lawmakers.
Twenty Senate Democrats sent a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on Tuesday saying the failure to impose sanctions was "unacceptable." Republican Senator Susan Collins said Shen found Trump's decision “perplexing."
Here is what 3 leaders tweeted.
Second - here is a response in Russia .
Third, remember this.
The Times didn't put Trump's refusal on page one...yet. In the shadow of the SOTU, it was barely covered in the American Press.
Call your Senators and demand that they hold Trump accountable. Are there no laws? Should Russia not be punished for interfering with our elections ?
