Trump signs Russia sanctions bill despite 'clearly unconstitutional provisions'
President Donald Trump
President Donald Trump signed a bill imposing sanctions on Russia on Wednesday while expressing concerns about its limits on executive power and its constitutionality.
A signing statement will lay out concerns with a provision that bars Trump from lifting sanctions without congressional approval, report the Washington Post, the New York Times, CNN and Politico. Bloomberg obtained an advance copy of the signing statement, expected to be released later on Wednesday.
The White House said the bill contained “a number of clearly unconstitutional provisions” that “purport to displace the president’s exclusive constitutional authority to recognize foreign governments, including their territorial bounds.”
The bill sanctions Russia for interfering in the 2016 presidential election. Russian President Vladimir Putin acted in advance of the bill’s signing by requiring the United States to cut 755 people from its diplomatic staff in the country.
Trump has several concerns, according to Bloomberg. They are encroachment on executive authority, unintentional harm to U.S. businesses and international partners, and limits on the administration’s ability to work with allies in response to Russia.
