The Senate Tuesday will hold simultaneous hearings on the relationship between the United States and Russia as it weighs a possible sanctions bill aimed a cracking down on election interference.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will interview State and Treasury department officials about U.S.-Russia relations, panel Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., announced Monday.
At the same time Tuesday, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee will hold a separate hearing on the effectiveness of Russia sanctions and “potential next steps” for dealing with the country.
Corker told reporters he is working closely with Banking Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, on a possible bill that would threaten sanctions against Russia ahead of the November midterm elections. But he stressed he wants the issue hashed out in committee.
“I’m not intent on doing anything other than convening a responsible committee process,” said Corker. “There’s a likelihood if we handle this right and it’s not over the top and out of control, another Russia bill could happen.”
Republicans and Democrats are working on different bills that that would sanction Russian officials or threaten sanctions if the country tries to tamper with the election. Corker said he would only back a bill that receives so much bipartisan support, “the White House wouldn’t even consider vetoing it.”
Crapo’s panel will interview Under Secretary Of Terrorism And Financial Crimes Sigal P. Mandelker, as well as officials from the departments of State and Homeland Security.
Corker’s witness list includes Marshall Billingslea, Treasury’s assistant secretary for terrorism financing, and the State Department’s Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, A. Wess Mitchell.
Senate lawmakers have been eager to pass new sanction legislation against Russia, which U.S. intelligence officials say meddled in the 2016 election and continue to be a meddling threat. Democrats and some GOP lawmakers believe President Trump has been too soft on Russia and say Congress must legislate new sanctions as both punishment and prevention.
Some of the sanctions legislation that has been proposed may be too harsh, Corker suggested, adding that lawmakers are revising legislation to ease the fears of European countries.
A bill sponsored by Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., would impose “severe sanctions” on Russia within 10 days of a determination by the director of national intelligence that the country “interfered in an American federal election.”
Another bipartisan bill sponsored by Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., and others would implement new sanctions against Russian officials and form new federal international cybersecurity office.
“We’ve got to be careful we don’t hurt our European friends,” Corker said. “And that we don’t hurt our own companies. If we pass something, it will be something that is thoughtful and appropriate.”
