I don't understand how they can vote on sanctions when there is no evidence of meddling?!?
Senate Approves New Russia Sanctions for Election Meddling
By Richard Lardner, AP | NBCDFW.com | June 14, 2017, Updated 1:33PM CTThe Senate overwhelmingly approved a new package of sanctions to punish Moscow for meddling in the 2016 presidential election, passing the measure 97-2 on Wednesday.
Also Wednesday, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson appeared before the Foreign Affairs Committee, having warned lawmakers the U.S. relationship with Russia is at an all-time low and deteriorating further. He's also cautioned against taking steps that might close off promising avenues of communication between the two former Cold War foes.
Tillerson was noncommittal about a package of new Russia sanctions during testimony Tuesday before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He said he's still reviewing the proposed penalties that Senate Republicans and Democrats agreed upon after lengthy negotiations. But it's important, he stressed, that President Donald Trump have the flexibility "to turn the heat up" on Russia if necessary.
At the same time, he also said he doesn't want to preemptively shut down a potentially productive conversation. As an example, Tillerson said talks with Moscow on stabilizing war-ravaged Syria are progressing, but it's too early to tell if the discussions will bear fruit. Imposing more sanctions could lead the Russians to curtail the dialogue, he said.
If the Trump administration decides to oppose the new sanctions, they could be in a bind. The package is to be added to a bill imposing penalties on Iran that the Senate is currently debating. So the White House would have to reject stricter punishments against Iran, which it favors, in order to derail the parts of the legislation it objects to.
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