South Carolina senator Lindsey Graham, an early skeptic of President Donald Trump’s pick for secretary of state, told THE WEEKLY STANDARD that his concerns over whether the nominee would be cozy with the Kremlin and weak on sanctions against Russia have been allayed.
Graham and Arizona senator John McCain announced their support for former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson in the run-up to a late January committee confirmation vote for the nominee. Their statement was measured, and said that the two senators still share concerns over Tillerson’s past dealings with the Kremlin.
Ahead of a full Senate confirmation vote for Tillerson Wednesday, Graham appeared less skeptical, telling TWS that Tillerson knows the importance of maintaining sanctions against Russia.
“He understands that the sanctions imposed based on the illegal takeover of Crimea are justified, and there’s no reason to lift them,” Graham said. “Quite frankly, there’s reason to impose new sanctions.”
The former oil exec had criticized those sanctions in 2014. Graham early on questioned Tillerson’s long-standing business relationship with the Kremlin, including the Order of Friendship that he received from Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2013.
Asked whether he had remaining concerns over Tillerson, Graham appeared more certain of the nominee than he had in weeks prior.
McCain, meanwhile, mirrored the joint statement and told TWS that he would support Tillerson though he still had reservations.
“I have concerns, but I said I would support him, giving the benefit of the doubt and the meetings I had with him,” he said.
Tillerson was confirmed by the Senate Wednesday in a 56 to 43 vote, with every Republican and three Democrats voting in support.
Graham made it clear in December that to earn his support, Tillerson would have to acknowledge Russian interference in elections and affirm the need for new sanctions.
“I want you to come forward and say whether or not you believe they interfered in our elections, they’re interfering in other democracies—and if you say they are not, I will be troubled by your judgment,” Graham said. “Do you support new sanctions? And if he doesn’t, it would be very hard for me to vote for him because you’re giving a green light to this behavior.”
During his confirmation hearing, Tillerson would not commit to maintaining or ramping up sanctions against Russia. The former oil exec called sanctions a tool that must be crafted and implemented effectively.
“In protecting American interests sanctions are a powerful tool,” Tillerson said. “Let’s design them well, target them well, enforce them fully.”
Graham and McCain introduced bipartisan sanctions legislation in January targeting Russia for its destabilizing activities, including interference in the U.S. election.
