Confirming its defiance of the White House, Congress moved closer on Tuesday towards additional sanctions against Russia, restricting Donald Trump’s authority to limit or suspend the restrictions.
In a 419-3 vote, the House of Representatives adopted a bill which also includes further sanctions against Iran and North Korea. The Senate adopted the Russian sanctions 98-2 last month, but the measure had been held up in the House as the White House and State Department lobbied against it.
The bill requires Trump to get Congressional approval before any modification of the sanctions. Measures were adopted in 2012 over Russian human rights issues, and in 2014 to protest Russia’s annexation of Crimea and military intervention in Ukraine. In December 2016, President Obama added further sanctions, including the closure of two Russian diplomatic properties, over Moscow’s interference in the US elections.
The latest bill must be reconciled between the House and Senate. The latter’s version did not include North Korea.
The White House sent out different messages last weekend about Trump’s response. Deputy Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the executive was now accepting the measures, but Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci said Trump had not decided.
On Tuesday, Sanders was equivocal: “While the President supports tough sanctions on North Korea, Iran and Russia, the White House is reviewing the House legislation and awaits a final legislative package for the President’s desk.”
