Two top lawmakers remain frustrated over the Trump administration’s failure to start implementing a set of congressionally mandated Russia sanctions on time, and are considering other avenues to pressure officials to act.
Under legislation signed grudgingly by President Trump in August, the State Department had to submit guidance by Oct. 1 specifying Russian defense or intelligence-linked entities that could face sanctions. It has not done so, though Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said that the administration has “every intention” of implementing the sanctions.
Maryland senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee and co-author of the relevant bill, said he met with Tillerson about two weeks ago and was “encouraged” by their conversation, but has not heard anything since then.
“We’re frustrated,” he told TWS. “The urgency of Russia dictates a more expedited way of dealing with this, and certainly in compliance with the time schedule that Congress anticipated.”
“Senator McCain and I are looking for other opportunities in order to advance administration action against Russia,” he added.
McCain, a co-author of the bill who has, along with Cardin, pressured the administration to act, also told reporters Wednesday that if the Trump administration does not implement the Russia sanctions, “there are a lot of actions we can take on the Armed Services Committee.”
“They haven’t done it,” he said. “It’s not acceptable, and it’s against the law.”
Tillerson said earlier in October that the State Department is being careful in crafting the relevant guidance. Another State Department official described the process as complicated.
“With respect to Russia in particular, we’re being very careful to develop the guidance that companies need,” Tillerson said on CNN. “We have every intention of implementing Congress’ intent.”
The subject of the sanctions makes the delay sensitive. The president has drawn criticism for his controversial remarks about Russian president Vladimir Putin. There are also multiple ongoing congressional probes that include any potential links between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.
However, Cardin said that the delay on implementing the sanctions is typical of the executive branch generally, rather than of Donald Trump specifically.
“Am I disappointed? Yes. Am I surprised? Not terribly surprised,” he told TWS. “We usually find the executive branch does not rush to these things, regardless of the president.”
