If there were red lines remaining between a Constitutional republic and an autocracy, those lines were left far in the distance on Monday. Not only did Republicans in the House disregard the pleas of the Justice Department to issue a one-sided document while suppressing any conflicting information, and not only was the Deputy Director of the FBI forced to step down weeks ahead of planned retirement, but the White House today decided to contrast their treatment of America’s own national security … with their treatment of Russia.
The Trump administration informed lawmakers Monday that new Russia sanctions called for in a bipartisan bill passed last year are not necessary yet because the measure is already "serving as a deterrent."
In other words, the sanctions that Trump will apply are … none. The White House is arguing that just having a sanctions law, without any sanctions is enough.
A State Department spokesperson said by email that the administration is "using this legislation as Congress intended to press Russia to address our concerns related to its aggression in Ukraine, interference in other nations’ domestic affairs and abuses of human rights."
They could apply sanctions, they’re just not applying sanctions. But don’t worry. Russia is scared that they could sanction them.
Except they aren’t. And they won’t.