Senators reach bipartisan deal to boost sanctions against Russia

Michael Collins | USA TODAY

WASHINGTON — A bipartisan group of senators has reached a deal to expand sanctions against Russia for its interference in last year’s presidential election and for its aggression in Syria and other human rights abuses.

The deal, negotiated by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., and others, would codify existing sanctions against Russia, which would make it more difficult for the Trump administration to remove them.

It also gives Congress the authority to review and potentially disapprove any attempt by the administration to suspend or terminate the sanctions.

The agreement will be included as an amendment to a bill placing additional sanctions against Iran over its recent flurry of ballistic missile tests and human rights violations. The Senate is expected to vote on the legislation later this week.

Corker said the amendment sends a strong signal to Russian President Vladimir Putin, while ensuring President Trump's administration has the flexibility it needs in dealing with Moscow.

"There is no question that the Russian government continues to violate the sovereignty of Ukraine, aggravate the crisis in Syria and destabilize democracies around the world," Corker said. "This amendment makes clear that the United States will not continue to tolerate such actions, and I am glad this moves us one step closer to passage of our legislation to hold Iran accountable."

The deal is the result of extensive negotiations involving a bipartisan group that included Corker and Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho. Other senators involved in the talks included Ben Cardin of Maryland, the Foreign Relation’s Committee’s top Democrat, and Sherrod Brown of Ohio, the ranking Democrat on the banking committee.

The deal comes as the investigation into Russian meddling in the U.S. presidential election garners new attention.

The Justice Department has appointed a special counsel to look into possible ties between Trump campaign associates and Russians who sought to influence the 2016 presidential campaign. Former FBI director James Comey testified last week before the Senate Intelligence Committee, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions will appear before the panel on Tuesday.

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Democrats have been pushing for stronger sanctions against Russia, warning that Moscow poses a serious threat and would continue to meddle in the electoral process in the United States and other countries unless Congress acts.

The agreement strengthens existing sanctions, including those that impact certain Russian energy projects and debt financing in key economic sectors, according to an outline of the agreement released late Monday night.

The deal imposes new sanctions on what the outline describes as “corrupt Russian actors,” those involved in serious human rights abuses, those supplying weapons to the regime of Syrian president Bashar Hafez al-Assad and “those conducting malicious cyber activity on behalf of the Russian government.”

In addition, the agreement allows the U.S. to impose broad new sanctions on key sectors of Russia’s economy, including mining, metals, shipping and railways.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York praised the agreement, particularly the decision to give Congress the right to review any effort to terminate the sanctions.

“By codifying existing sanctions and requiring congressional review of any decision to weaken or lift them, we are ensuring that the United States continues to punish President Putin for his reckless and destabilizing actions,” he said.

“These additional sanctions will also send a powerful and bipartisan statement to Russia and any other country who might try to interfere in our elections that they will be punished," Schumer said.