Trump's decision to waive Russian sanctions outrages Congress, but no quick counter seen

Lawmakers in both parties are angry after President Donald Trump suspended, with no end date, a new set of penalties against Russia just before most of them were due to start Sunday. He cited national security. Congress had approved the measure, named for the late Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, by an 86-11 Senate vote, and it was meant to tax countries buying large volumes of Russian oil and energy. Trump signed it about a month ago, after Graham spent nearly a year persuading him, according to PBS NewsHour.

The move follows Trump's announcement of a fuel arrangement with Vladimir Putin, intended to ease high gas prices ahead of the November 3 midterms. Senator Thom Tillis, a North Carolina Republican, called the decision "beyond irresponsible." Senator John Cornyn of Texas said Graham would be appalled. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts also condemned it. Representative Gregory Meeks of New York introduced a bill Friday to block the fuel arrangement.

A fast response is unlikely because both chambers are on recess until after Election Day. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, facing a hard winter of Russian strikes on his country's energy system, hopes the penalties return.

Summarized by PolitiKool from PBS NewsHour’s reporting. Read the full story at PBS NewsHour →