https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/19/politics/russia-bill-trump-administration-opposition-letter/index.html

Trump administration opposes bill meant to deter Russia

The Trump administration is pushing back on a wide-ranging piece of legislation meant to deter and punish Russian aggression and its interference in the 2016 e******n.

In a 22-page letter to Congress dated Tuesday, a senior State Department official outlined a series of concerns about the bill, calling it "unnecessary" and in need of "significant changes."
"The Administration shares the goal of deterring and countering Russian subversion and aggression," Bureau of Legislative Affairs Assistant Secretary Mary Elizabeth Taylor wrote in the letter, which was obtained by CNN. However, she said the administration "strongly opposes" the bill in its current form.
The Daily Beast was the first to report on the contents of the letter, sent exactly a week after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

Russia sanctions have been an ongoing source of contention between the Trump White House and Congress, where there has been strong bipartisan support for measures to punish Moscow since its 2014 annexation of Crimea. The US intelligence community's conclusion that Russia meddled in the 2016 e******n to bolster Trump, and former and current administration officials' warnings that it will meddle again in 2020, have lent urgency to congressional efforts.

On Wednesday, Graham said he was "incredibly pleased with the overwhelming bipartisan support for my legislation."
"This strong v**e indicates an overwhelming desire by the Senate as a whole to push back against Russian interference in our e******n and Putin's misadventures throughout the world," Graham said, before going on to signal a willingness to make adjustments to the bill. "I am committed to working with my colleagues to improve this legislation, but it must be strong to be meaningful," he said.

The legislation would force the administration to assess whether Russia is a state sponsor of terror and would hammer Russia with a host of additional sanctions. It would require a two-thirds Senate v**e if Trump decides to leave NATO and includes measures to crack down on Russian disinformation and cybercrimes. Additionally, it would also require a series of reports on illicit Russian activities worldwide.

The tension between lawmakers and the White House over sanctioning Russia reflects a broader dynamic, Charap said.
"The Congress doesn't trust the President on Russia policy... I think that's what's going on here," he said.
The Trump administration has long faced criticism for its soft-handed approach to Russia. It was more than six months late in imposing legally mandated sanctions on the Kremlin for the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in the United Kingdom.
In his public rhetoric, Trump has largely failed to condemn Russia for its interference in the 2016 US e******n or for its illegal annexation of Crimea.

https://www.cnn.com/2019/12/19/politics/russia-bill-trump-administration-opposition-letter/index.html

Trump administration opposes bill meant to deter Russia

The Trump administration is pushing back on a wide-ranging piece of legislation meant to deter and punish Russian aggression and its interference in the 2016 e******n.

In a 22-page letter to Congress dated Tuesday, a senior State Department official outlined a series of concerns about the bill, calling it "unnecessary" and in need of "significant changes."
"The Administration shares the goal of deterring and countering Russian subversion and aggression," Bureau of Legislative Affairs Assistant Secretary Mary Elizabeth Taylor wrote in the letter, which was obtained by CNN. However, she said the administration "strongly opposes" the bill in its current form.
The Daily Beast was the first to report on the contents of the letter, sent exactly a week after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office.

Russia sanctions have been an ongoing source of contention between the Trump White House and Congress, where there has been strong bipartisan support for measures to punish Moscow since its 2014 annexation of Crimea. The US intelligence community's conclusion that Russia meddled in the 2016 e******n to bolster Trump, and former and current administration officials' warnings that it will meddle again in 2020, have lent urgency to congressional efforts.

On Wednesday, Graham said he was "incredibly pleased with the overwhelming bipartisan support for my legislation."
"This strong v**e indicates an overwhelming desire by the Senate as a whole to push back against Russian interference in our e******n and Putin's misadventures throughout the world," Graham said, before going on to signal a willingness to make adjustments to the bill. "I am committed to working with my colleagues to improve this legislation, but it must be strong to be meaningful," he said.

The legislation would force the administration to assess whether Russia is a state sponsor of terror and would hammer Russia with a host of additional sanctions. It would require a two-thirds Senate v**e if Trump decides to leave NATO and includes measures to crack down on Russian disinformation and cybercrimes. Additionally, it would also require a series of reports on illicit Russian activities worldwide.

The tension between lawmakers and the White House over sanctioning Russia reflects a broader dynamic, Charap said.
"The Congress doesn't trust the President on Russia policy... I think that's what's going on here," he said.
The Trump administration has long faced criticism for its soft-handed approach to Russia. It was more than six months late in imposing legally mandated sanctions on the Kremlin for the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, in the United Kingdom.
In his public rhetoric, Trump has largely failed to condemn Russia for its interference in the 2016 US e******n or for its illegal annexation of Crimea.