DPCC Co-Chair Cicilline: The President is Failing to Send a Strong Message to Russia
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman David Cicilline, Co-Chair of the House Democratic Policy & Communications Committee (DPCC), appeared on CNN's At This Hour to discuss President Trump's refusal to implement new sanctions passed by Congress on Russia following their interference in the 2016 Presidential election. This decision comes on the heels of House Republicans releasing a reckless and dangerously irresponsible intelligence memo. While the President and House Republicans continue to create confusion, chaos and crisis, Democrats remain committed to building A Better Deal for American working families that will deliver better jobs, better wages and a better future. Below are excerpts from the interview and a link to the video.
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"This was a bipartisan piece of legislation and there were only five people who voted against it in the House and in the Senate. So, overwhelmingly bipartisan. It directed the President to impose sanctions and it also removed the President's ability to relax any existing sanctions. Because I think people had very little confidence that the President would take this responsibility seriously.
"Despite the passage of that legislation and the President signing this in July, no implementation has happened. You have to ask, why is that? Why is the President so reluctant to hold the Russian government accountable for their interference in our presidential election? And it's important to say, you know, this idea that well maybe it's already working – the passage of the bill is enough to deter them. The purpose of passing the sanction bill was also to punish the Russians to let them know and any other country who would consider it – that you cannot interfere with the American democracy. Or with our presidential elections and if you do, you will be punished for it. The CIA Director said he expects they will try again in 2018 and the President is failing in his responsibility to send a very strong message by implementing these sanctions to tell Russia and any other adversary that you will not be permitted to interfere with our elections. Period."