Senate Passes Russia Sanctions Bill; Sen. Cassidy Backs Todd Blanche

Insight & analysis on the White House and Capitol Hill.

The Senate voted to pass a slate of sweeping new sanctions against Russia Friday afternoon and extended existing sanctions against Iran. The bill faced pushback over its use of tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, with some Democrats and Republican Rand Paul saying that would give President Trump too much authority to place new tariffs on countries like China and India. The Senate also made moves towards confirming Trump's nominee for Attorney General, Todd Blanche. Earlier in the day Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana said that he would back Blanche, clearing the way for his confirmation to the role. Giving remarks on the Senate floor Cassidy said, 'Mr. Blanche is not perfect, and he will tell you this, but the choice is not between perfection and Mr. Blanche. It is between Mr. Blanche and another acting attorney general, who may not run the department effectively under President Trump.'

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