Trump Capitulates To Putin On Sanctions, As Predicted

Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA), the Senior House Democrat on Congress’ Joint Economic Committee, member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, and a leading critic of the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia Act prior to its passage last month, issued the following statement today after President Trump waived all sanctions on Russia under the law: “President Trump just waived all of the sanctions on Russia provided for in the Lindsey Graham Sanctioning Russia Act, just as I and others warned he would. Trump’s latest surrender to Putin again betrays our Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war of aggression. Trump has proven he will twist this law and abuse the powers it conferred on him, and while he has let the tariff powers lie for the moment, the law as written also empowers Trump to weaponize new trade authorities against our allies and trading partners. Congress must fix this flawed law to stop Trump from capitulating to Putin and ensure it truly supports Ukraine.” Rep. Don Beyer, a former U.S. Ambassador, serves as Senior House Democrat on the Joint Economic Committee, chairs the New Democrat Coalition’s Trade Task Force, and serves on the House Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee.