House votes to maintain Russian sanctions.
Posted January 17, 2019 10:09 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
WASHINGTON — The House has voted overwhelmingly to maintain sanctions on three companies connected to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, protesting the Treasury Department’s decision to lift the financial penalties.
The 362-53 vote was symbolic, as the Senate has already defeated a resolution to overrule the Treasury Department and keep the sanctions in place. Democratic senators narrowly failed on Wednesday to get the 60 votes needed to move forward despite 11 Republicans voting with them.
In the House on Thursday, a majority of Republicans voted with Democrats, sending a strong message of disapproval to President Donald Trump’s administration.
At issue is a December announcement from the Treasury Department that the U.S. would lift sanctions on the companies linked to Deripaska. Critics say the deal doesn’t require Deripaska to relinquish enough control.
Mary Clare Jalonick, The Associated Press
