Thursday, January 12, 2017

Schumer Blasts Tillerson on Russia Sanctions

 

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday criticized Rex Tillerson's unwillingness to commit to maintaining sanctions against Russia, signaling that Democrats plan to escalate their case against Donald Trump's chosen secretary of state.

Tillerson told senators at his confirmation hearing Wednesday that he would have to examine the slate of current and proposed sanctions before deciding how to proceed, adding that he and Trump have yet to discuss Russia. The former ExxonMobil CEO's answers on sanctions are likely to deepen bipartisan concerns about whether he would be prepared to get tough on Moscow in light of intelligence reports that Vladimir Putin's government orchestrated cyberattacks to disrupt the U.S. election.

"You don't need a classified briefing to know what Russia has done in the past," Schumer said of Tillerson in a floor speech. "To duck the question and refuse to commit to continuing these sanctions is tantamount to sweeping international laws under the rug. It says, 'Go ahead, interfere in our elections again. Nothing will happen to you.'" 

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Source: Politico (via The Empire Report) 

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