U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is planning to force a vote on the Trump administration’s decision to lift sanctions on companies owned by Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch. Schumer and other Democrats argue that the Treasury Department’s decision to lift sanctions on Deripaska’s companies, including the aluminum giant Rusal, was premature. They contend that the Russian oligarch has deep ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and that lifting the sanctions could potentially provide a financial boost to Putin’s regime. Schumer’s move to force a vote comes under a provision in the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. This action could put Republicans, particularly those up for re-election in 2020, in a difficult position.
Click the link below to gain a clearer understanding of the political maneuvering that is underway within the Senate. This important issue not only involves sanctions and international relations, but could also have a significant impact on the upcoming 2020 elections.