McCain: ‘Further actions’ to be taken if Trump doesn’t enact Russia sanctions
Oct 24, 2017, 4:15 AM | Updated: Mar 1, 2018, 3:41 pm
Senate Armed Services chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks during a hearing on 'Recent United States Navy Incidents at Sea', Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
PHOENIX — Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) has continued to voice his frustration with President Donald Trump over his administration’s continuous delay in implementing sanctions on Russia.
According to The Daily Beast, McCain told reporters on Monday that if the Trump administration does not “cooperate” with implementing sanctions on the Russia defense and intelligence sectors “then further actions need to be taken.”
The Trump administration was expected to announce the implementation of these sanctions by Oct. 1, after Trump signed legislation in August that strengthened and expanded sanctions on Russia, Iran and North Korea.
The bill was drafted with the intent that Trump would punish Russia for its tempering in the 2016 presidential election.
But, according to the publication, “Congress is essentially powerless in compelling the executive branch to follow through on the law it forced [the administration] to sign.”
This is not the first time McCain has voiced his frustration over the issue: On Oct. 12, McCain joined a group of bipartisan senators to write a letter to the Trump administration addressing the delay.
In a statement released at the time, McCain said the delay “calls into question the Trump administration’s commitment to the sanctions bill.”
“In addition to the administration’s lack of responsiveness on this deadline, there does not appear to be a significant diplomatic effort to engage our allies in Europe and lead an effort to increase pressure on Moscow,” the statement read.
