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u.s. news Diabierna 11 Maart 2022

House approves ban on Russian oil to US, bolstering Biden

(AP) — The House over- Russia and help Ukraine has objections, Democratic lead-
whelmingly approved leg- acted as an accelerant on the ers in Congress shelved the
islation Wednesday night White House’s own strategy, emerging bill rather than
that would ban Russian pushing the Biden adminis- forcing a confrontation with
oil imports to the United tration to move more quickly their party’s president.
States, an effort to put into than it would have — a rare
law the restrictions an- example of the legislative Instead, the new legislation
nounced by President Joe branch muscling its way into approved by the House stops
Biden in response to the foreign policy. short of suspending Russia’s
escalating war in Ukraine. normal trade status. Rather,
Just days ago, the Biden ad- it calls for a review of Rus-
Going further than Biden’s ministration was reluctant sia’s status at the World Trade
import ban on Russian to ban Russian oil imports, Organization. The House
oil, the bill making its way worried about reducing the bill also says the Global Mag-
through Congress would also global energy supply and nitsky Human Rights Ac-
encourage a review of Rus- causing spikes in gas prices at countability Act should be
sia’s status in the World Trade a time when U.S. households House GOP leader Kevin tality of the war intensifies. bolstered to allow the presi-
Organization and signal U.S. already face record-setting McCarthy said Republi- More than 2 million Ukrai- dent to impose sanctions
support for sanctions on inflation. cans would have preferred a nians have fled the country in on any foreign person who
Russian officials over human tougher bill on Russia, along- the most rapid exodus since has “directly or indirectly
rights violations, as the U.S. “We’ve been talking about side efforts to allow more en- World War II. engaged in serious human
works to economically isolate doing the Russian (energy) ergy production in the U.S. rights abuse.”
the regime. ban for a while, and we’re Nevertheless, they wanted to The legislation in many ways
so pleased the president has send a show of support. is symbolic, since Biden has The Democrats in Congress
Lawmakers in both parties done that,” House Speaker already announced the Rus- are toggling between push-
have been eager to act, will- Nancy Pelosi said ahead of “Our conference over- sian oil ban. But the legisla- ing their priorities and allow-
ing to risk higher gas prices the vote. whelmingly does not want tive push sets up the next ing the Biden administration
at home in order to support Russian oil; we want Ameri- showdown over Russia’s leeway as it works with allies
Ukraine with a show of U.S. While Russian oil makes can oil,” McCarthy said. trade status as Congress in Europe and beyond to stop
bipartisanship. The legisla- up only a small part of U.S. presses for restrictions on Putin’s war.
tion was approved Wednes- imports, it carries a high The GOP leader distanced other imports from Russia
day, 414-17, and now goes to price for lawmakers in Con- himself from former Presi- that the administration has so Senators, though, remain
the Senate. gress who viewed the ban as dent Donald Trump’s views far resisted. eager to curb Russian trade
a moral test in blocking an that Putin is a “genius” for with restrictions on imports
Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, economic lifeline for Putin’s his Ukraine strategy. The White House intervened to the U.S., and Republican
who helped draft the bill, ac- regime. Lawmakers appeared over the weekend as key law- senators may try to amend
knowledged it may cost more especially moved by Ukraini- “I do not think anything makers from both the House the bill once it comes up for
to fill up tanks at home to an President Volodymr Zel- savvy or genius about Putin. and Senate prepared a more a Senate debate, likely in the
stop Russian President Vladi- enskyy’s “desperate plea” for I think Putin is evil. He’s a punitive bill that would be- week ahead. The bipartisan
mir Putin’s tanks abroad. help during a weekend video dictator,” McCarthy said. gin to strip Russia of its per- bill as initially drafted would
call with lawmakers. manent normal trade relation have suspended normal trade
“It is one way to demonstrate The action comes as Con- status — a move that would relations with Russia as well
our solidarity,” Doggett said “We stand with the people gress is on track to approve have opened the door to tar- as Belarus, the neighboring
during the debate. of Ukraine, Democrats and nearly $14 billion in mili- iffs on other goods coming Russian ally that has been
Republicans alike,” said Rep. tary and humanitarian aid for from Russia to the U.S. used as a launch point for
The remarkable bipartisan Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa. Ukraine, a package that has incursions into northern
resolve in Congress to deter swelled in size as the bru- Amid the administration’s Ukraine.

Americans in Japanese prison in Ghosn escape seek to go home

(AP) — Two Americans im- The U.S. Justice Department roles in helping Ghosn es- months in detention. They Another American, former
prisoned in Japan for help- in October requested the cape Japan for Lebanon, the were kept in solitary confine- senior Nissan Motor Co. ex-
ing former Nissan Chairman Taylors, who were convicted country of his ancestry. Leba- ment in Japan while awaiting ecutive Greg Kelly, recently
Carlos Ghosn avoid trial and in the same trial, be trans- non has no extradition treaty their verdict. That is fairly returned home to the U.S.
escape to Lebanon are hoping ferred to a U.S. prison. with Japan. standard in Japan for suspects after being cleared of nearly
to serve the rest of their time not given bail. But they were all charges related to Ghosn’s
in the U.S. Japan’s Justice Ministry must Taylor, 61, was sentenced to not given credit for the time compensation. Kelly says he
agree for the transfer to be two years in prison. Peter spent before they were sen- is innocent and is appealing.
The Boston-based attorney carried out. The ministry had Taylor, 29, was accused of ar- tenced. He is not required to stay in
for Michael Taylor and his no immediate comment. ranging the escape and sen- Japan while the Tokyo High
son Peter Taylor, Paul Kelly, tenced to 20 months in pris- The Taylors’ family members Court hears an appeal.
said Thursday that the elder Ghosn fled to Lebanon in on. Since he is athletic and have not been able to visit or
man was suffering from seri- late 2019, hiding in a music younger, he is in better shape telephone them. They have Tokyo prosecutors, who de-
ous back pain and frostbite. instrument box aboard a pri- than his father, Kelly said. only been able to meet with manded two years in prison
vate jet. their attorneys and U.S. Em- for Kelly, also are consider-
In their trial, they said they bassy officials. ing an appeal, spokesman and
Japanese prisons lack West- had been misled and wanted Deputy Chief Prosecutor
ern-style heating, air-condi- to save Ghosn from an un- Ghosn was arrested in No- Hiroshi Morimoto said.
tioning or beds. Inmates get fair system, believing Ghosn vember 2018 and charged
a mattress that’s rolled out could not expect a fair trial. with under-reporting his Ghosn was a superstar for
at night. Japanese authorities Japan’s justice system has compensation and of breach two decades at Nissan’s helm.
say their prisons meet hu- been long criticized by hu- of trust in misusing Nissan Kelly’s trial has highlighted
manitarian standards. man rights advocates. money for personal gain, discontent at the Japanese au-
such as fancy homes, a yacht tomaker over what was per-
Michael and Peter Taylor The Taylors were extradited and lavish parties. He says he ceived as its lesser position in
were convicted in Tokyo Dis- from the U.S. in February is innocent. the alliance with French part-
trict Court in July for their 2021, after spending nine ner Renault.