Two leading House Democrats are trying to block the Trump administration from making foreign policy about Russia until the FBI completes its investigations into Moscow’s meddling in the presidential election and possible connections between White House officials and Russia.
“Until investigations are completed and the American people know the full facts of the attack upon our democracy, the Trump White House should not be changing our nation’s policies to benefit [Russian President] Vladimir Putin and his government,” Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., said Wednesday. “We’re learning more every day about the deep personal, political and financial ties between the Trump campaign team and Russia — including many that converged with Russia’s election interference — and we need to ensure that all of America’s policies are in America’s best interests, not Putin’s.”
Swalwell, the top Democrat on the Intelligence panel’s FBI subcommittee, and New York’s Eliot Engel, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced the resolution.
“Russia did not attack us because they were restless or bored,” Swalwell added, saying Putin acted because he clearly saw a benefit for Moscow in a Trump presidency.
The resolution would “express the sense of Congress” that Trump and his administration “should make no alterations to sanctions, treaties, military aid, or diplomatic relations that might benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin or his government,” until the FBI closes its probes.
“Every day it seems we learn more and more about the ties between the Trump administration and Russia,” Engel said. “We certainly need answers before this administration shifts our country’s posture toward Russia.”
Swalwell is also the chief sponsor of a bill that would create an independent commission to investigate the Russian allegations and has taken it upon himself to show that Trump and the Kremlin are connected.
“American policy needs to advance American interests, period,’ Engel added. “With this dark cloud hanging over the administration, we cannot know for sure what’s motivating the President’s decisions. Frankly, I think the president is far too cozy with Putin. I want to know why.
“And until we have the answers we need, I would have serious concerns if he started making decisions that played into Putin’s hands,” Engel concluded.
