A Senate vote on a bill that would sanction Russia for its war with Ukraine could happen soon, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Wednesday on the floor. The veto-proof legislation, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), would also punish buyers of Russian oil, like China and India.
President Trump has not endorsed the bill, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio fears it will harm peace negotiations.
Trump on Wednesday will host leaders from several African nations, looking to shore up relationships, even as the State Department has scaled back its presence on the continent.
West African leaders will join Trump for a White House lunch to discuss areas of economic cooperation, security and democracy, according to the Liberian Embassy. Liberia, Senegal, Gabon, Mauritania and Guinea-Bissau will be represented.
Several of Trump’s nominees will also face Senate panels on Wednesday for confirmation hearings. Among the most prominent is Neil Jacobs, nominated to be the next leader of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Over in the Foreign Affairs panel, Kimberly Guilfoyle, the ex-partner of Trump’s eldest son, will face a confirmation hearing to be ambassador to Greece.
In the House, former President Biden’s doctor, Kevin O’Connor, would not answer questions in a closed-door interview with the Oversight Committee, which is investigating Biden’s mental acuity while in office.
Also in the news:
- Jewish Democrats in Congress sound the alarm on Mamdani
- GOP lawmakers dismayed by lack of progress on trade deals
Follow along all day for updates.
