WASHINGTON, DC – After the Trump Administration informed Congress that new Russia sanctions called for in a bipartisan law passed last year are not necessary,  U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), the Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee, who strongly supported the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (Public Law 115-44), issued the following statement:

“For a year the Trump Administration has delayed and declined to hold Russia accountable for interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.  A total of 98 Senators – Democrats and Republicans – said Russia should be sanctioned, but so far the President has declined to confront Putin and the American people deserve to know why.  Americans are right to wonder why President Trump acts tough on our allies but won’t stand up to Putin’s hostile moves.

“There’s no logic in Trump’s decision to slow walk these sanctions.  It’s a choice that seems to reward Putin’s meddling abroad and comes on the heels of CIA Director Mike Pompeo’s statement that Russia will try to target our 2018 elections.   

“Indeed, Russia has not halted its malign activities and now President Trump is sending the wrong message to Russia and our allies.  Rather than deterring Russian misbehavior, the Trump Administration’s failure to follow Congress’s strong bipartisan intent could further embolden Russian aggression against its neighbors and our NATO allies.

“President Trump has a lot of questions to answer when it comes to Russia.  If he refuses to take action to combat Russian interference in the U.S., he should at least tell the American people why.”