Sens. Tom Cotton and John Boozman lined up on the right side of a vote Tuesday and let’s give credit where due for their opposition to Donald Trump‘s desire
Cotton and Boozman were among 11 Senate Republicans who joined Democrats in support of a resolution to continue sanctions against businesses related to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Trump’s Treasury secretary has been lobbying to lift the sanctions.
This isn’t a final vote. It will take 60 votes to pass the resolution, which will require a couple more Republican votes. Sen. Mitch McConnell opposed the resolution. Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer, who led the fight for passage, said it would send a signal that Vladimir Putin doesn’t run things in the U.S. Donald Trump sends some conflicting signals on that.
Deripaska is a friend of Putin. He also paid Paul Manafort.
UPDATE: Sanctions will be lifted apparently. The Senate fell three votes short of the 60 needed for passage on a revote today.