Republicans Criticize Decision to Not Sanction Nord Stream Pipeline Company
Congressional Republicans are expressing their dismay at the White House notification earlier this week that it will not be imposing sanctions on the CEO of the primary company building the Nord Stream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany, even though Congress clearly said it wanted that company to be a sanctions target (see 2104220003). Rep. Andy Barr, R-Ky., said that all congressional sanctions bills give the president the authority to waive the sanctions, and President Joe Biden is choosing to do so.
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Barr hosted a press conference at the Capitol May 20 with Rep. Garret Graves, R-La., Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., and Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, and they all said it was hypocritical for the Biden campaign to cast aspersions on President Donald Trump's relationship with Vladimir Putin, given this decision.
Barr said that at Secretary of State Antony Blinken's nomination hearing in the Senate, Blinken said, "I am determined we do whatever we can to stop the completion of Nord Stream 2." The White House's move is directly at odds with that assertion, Barr said.
Graves asked, "What U.S. interest are we advancing? This makes no sense."
Some senators are also concerned about the sanctions decision, and Barr said he will examine a proposed bill from Sen. Kevin Cramer, R-N.D., to force the sanctions.
Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, issued a statement about the decision, as well. “I am opposed to the Biden administration’s decision to waive the congressionally-mandated sanctions against Nord Stream 2 AG. This choice is contrary to our national interests, and at an especially volatile period, helps Russia while hurting Ukraine and our European Union allies," he said. “There is clear and convincing evidence that Nord Stream 2 AG and CEO [Matthias] Warnig are committing sanctionable acts and should be subject to these sanctions under U.S. law. In addition, the State Department is on record saying that the Biden administration believes the pipeline is a bad idea, will hurt Europe, and is against our U.S. national interests. I, and my bipartisan colleagues in Congress, see this project for what it really is -- an attempt by Russia to gain control over its European neighbors through the region’s energy supply."