Via a State Department statement, the illegitimate, popular-vote-losing White House occupant has let it be known he won’t be enforcing sanctions against Russia that were ordered by an almost unanimous congressional vote (98-2 and 419-5).

The legislation itself is a sufficient “deterrent,” you see. Even if it only hits other nations Russia deals with, not Russia itself.

He dare not touch his dear friend Vladimir Putin’s stuff.

Politico congressional reporter Elana Shor tweets, with images of the statement:

x The Trump admin has notified Congress that last yearÃ¢ÂÂs bipartisan Russia sanctions bill is serving as a Ã¢ÂÂdeterrentÃ¢ÂÂ and as such, specific sanctions arenÃ¢ÂÂt needed at this time. From a State Dept spox: pic.twitter.com/rwkd6Vzh66 Ã¢ÂÂ Elana Schor (@eschor) January 29, 2018

x More on Russia sanctions from State Dept spox. Ã¢ÂÂWhen and if we have sanctions to announce, we will do so. ... should sanctions be imposed, they would primarily be on non-Russian entities that are responsible for significant transactions w/RussiaÃ¢ÂÂs defense & intelligence sector.Ã¢ÂÂ pic.twitter.com/HniwuXTwLv Ã¢ÂÂ Elana Schor (@eschor) January 29, 2018

Story coming on Politico; when I see it there I’ll link to it. Here it is. The part I find most interesting:

In addition to the sanctions on entities doing business with Moscow's defense and intelligence sectors, the sanctions law also calls for the administration to produce by Monday [Jan. 29, 2018] a list of oligarchs linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin and a report on the consequences of sanctioning Russia's sovereign debt. The sanctions law was crafted partially in response to Russian meddling in the 2016 election. It remains unclear whether the administration has already released or plans to release the oligarchs or sovereign debt reports that were due Monday, both of which are likely to contain classified information. The State Department spokesperson added: "Further details are contained in a classified report we have submitted to Congress."

Interesting that this happened on the same day Andrew McCabe was forced out.

It’s basically throwing down the gauntlet to Congress. “I don’t have to follow your orders even if you vote 98-2/419-5… how you gonna make me?”

It seems we have a constitutional crisis and not even on only one front. Nunes & gang on the House Intelligence Committee have voted to release the Nunes-authored memo (and of course keep the Dem side silenced) to give cover to Trump shutting down the Mueller investigation.

If the Senate wants to maintain any power in the face of Trump’s powermongering, it had better draw a line in the sand right now.

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