If Trump/Russia is Fake News, Why Did You Vote Yes on Russia Sanctions Act?
On August 2, 2017, Donald Trump signed into law one of the precious few significant pieces of legislation in his first year of office: the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (H.R. 3364, Pub.L. 115–44), which imposes sanctions of Iran, North Korea, and, most exigently, Russia. CAATSA requires Congressional approval before the executive branch can ease or lift sanctions on Russia.
The bipartisan measure passed the House by an overwhelming vote of 419 to 3. My Congressman, John Faso (R-Kinderhook), a noted recipient of beaucoup bucks from the Mercers, was a YEA vote. So was Matt Gaetz. And Dana Rohrabacher. And Devin Nunes. And Trey Gowdy. And Louis Gohmert. And Bob Goodlatte. And Steve King. All of the Congressmen I’ve accused of being Putinist collaborators voted YEA.
(The three NAY votes — Justin Amash of Michigan, John Duncan of Tennessee, and Thomas Massie of Kentucky —are not big names in Trump/Russia…at least not so far).
“Vladimir Putin’s Russia is no ally of ours,” Faso said in a prepared statement. “The Kremlin’s efforts to influence the 2016 election cycle prove that its ultimate goal is to destabilize and divide the United States. Today my colleagues and I rebuked these provocative actions by Russia and sent a clear message to others who would attempt to disrupt our democratic process: Americans will always stand united in defense of our values.”
In the Senate, Tom Cotton voted for the final bill. So did John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, both of Texas. And Bob Corker. And Luther Strange. Every single one of Trump’s staunchest allies voted YEA. The only two dissenting votes belonged to Rand Paul, whose position on anything is impossible to predict…and, curiously, Comrade Bernie Sanders.
My question is: Why did Faso feel compelled to vote YEA? The President is the maker of foreign policy. CAATSA would take some of that responsibility and turn it over to Congress. The President could make a compelling argument, vetoing the bill, that it is too restrictive generally of his powers. Why vote YEA now, with Donald Trump in office, on such a thing? And why on Russia explicitly? If Trump/Russia was “FAKE NEWS,” as the President claimed, why is CAATSA necessary? And wherefore the near-unanimous vote?
The answer seems obvious: Only five of the 516 members of Congress opposed the bill restricting Trump's ability to lift sanctions on Russia, because they don't trust Trump on matters pertaining to Russia. They know that Trump would have lifted the sanctions already if he could have gotten away with it, and will try to do so at the first available opportunity; thus, a piece of legislation was required to curb that seditious impulse.
Today, with authoritarian voices in both the House and the Senate questioning the integrity of the Mueller investigation, and the need for same, the question that should be posed is:
“You voted YEA on CAATSA…what has changed in the last six months to make you believe that Trump can be trusted with matters pertaining to Russia? If you believe he can be trusted, why did you vote YEA? If you don’t believe he could be trusted then, why do you think he can be now, after the rafts of circumstantial evidence suggesting collusion with Putin have emerged?”
Journalists, take note: Our members of Congress need to articulate a clear position on Mueller, Russia, and CAATSA…and they need to be made to do it immediately.
