The Senate on Wednesday narrowly rejected a Democratic-led effort to block President Trump from lifting sanctions against three Russian businesses.
Senators voted 57-42 to end debate on the resolution, falling short of the 60 votes needed. If all Democrats supported the measure, they needed to win over 13 GOP senators.
GOP Sens. John Boozman (Ark.), Susan Collins (Maine), Tom Cotton (Ark.), Steve Daines (Mont.), Cory Gardner (Colo.), Josh Hawley (Mo.), John Kennedy (La.), Martha McSally (Ariz.), Jerry Moran (Kan.), Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Ben Sasse (Neb.) voted to end debate on the resolution and advance it to a final vote.
The Trump administration announced plans late last month to relax sanctions on three businesses — Rusal, EN+ and EuroSibEnergo — connected to Oleg Deripaska, an oligarch with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Under the 2017 sanctions bill, Democrats are able to force a vote on a resolution to block the administration from lifting the financial penalties.
Wednesday’s vote hands the Trump administration a win after Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin was dispatched to Capitol Hill to lobby Congress to squash the resolution.
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JUST IN: Senate rejects Dems' attempt to block Trump from lifting sanctions on Russian businesses https://t.co/1Rc7HamJNx pic.twitter.com/KgO1li1CfG
— The Hill (@thehill) January 16, 2019
"Watch what he does, not what he says."
Okay, I'm watching the instructions the leader of the executive branch is sending to his loyal minions in the legislature. What I see is that Putin committed yet *another* act of aggression, and some sanctions got lifted. https://t.co/v2QrFOigRP
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 16, 2019
I expected nothing less from him. Or, I should say, nothing more. https://t.co/FN7U5GAPhJ
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 16, 2019
I miss the days when the Russians thought we were possible partners, or failing that, worthy adversaries. Now they think we're just decadent suckers, and they may have a point. https://t.co/SNzeMJeIFt
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) January 16, 2019
And here are some Republican Senators who have been notable Russia skeptics or hawks, but who nonetheless voted this afternoon to back the TRUMP administration's move to lift sanctions against OLEG DERIPASKA's companies:@SenatorBurr@LindseyGrahamSC@SenRobPortman@MittRomney
— Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) January 16, 2019
I hope all the Senators getting publicity on Russia State TV use this picture for their campaigns in the future. https://t.co/YT5xoBYmV6
— Mark Hertling (@MarkHertling) January 17, 2019
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