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U.S. NEWS Monday 30 January 2017
Day after Putin call, GOP warns Trump on lifting sanctions

LYNN BERRY decision has been made. tend the sanctions and put
Associated Press The Obama administra- them into law.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A tion hit Russia with several McConnell held back
day after Donald Trump’s rounds of punishing sanc- on supporting that effort:
first call as president with tions in 2014 in response to “Well, we’ll wait and see. I
Russia’s Vladimir Putin, its annexation of Ukraine’s hope the president will fol-
leading congressional Re- Crimea region and support low our advice and not be
publicans made clear they for separatists fighting gov- lifting the sanctions on the
oppose any attempt by ernment forces in eastern Russians.”
the new administration to Ukraine. These penalties White House chief of staff
wipe away U.S. penalties targeted sectors of Russia’s Reince Priebus refused to
imposed on Moscow by economy, major compa- say whether the subject of
the Obama White House. nies and people in Putin’s Russian interference in the
“I’m absolutely opposed inner circle. election was raised during
to lifting sanctions on the Shortly before leaving of- Saturday’s call.
Russians,” Senate Majority fice, Obama also ordered “What I will tell you is that it
Leader Mitch McConnell, sanctions on Russian spy Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Ky. speaks with the was a positive call,” Priebus
media in Philadelphia. A day after Donald Trump’s first call as
R-Ky., said Sunday. “If any- agencies, closed two Rus- president with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, leading congressional said. The two leaders dis-
thing, we ought to be look- sian compounds in the U.S. Republicans made clear they oppose any attempt by the new cussed working together
ing at increasing them.” and expelled 35 diplo- administration to wipe away U.S. penalties imposed on Moscow in eradicating the Islamic
The White House said the is- mats that he said were by the Obama White House. State group and “resolv-
sue of sanctions wasn’t dis- really spies. These sanc- (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) ing problems around the
cussed during Saturday’s tions followed an assess- world, including Syria,” he
nearly one-hour conversa- ment by U.S. intelligence policy” to remove the Portman, R-Ohio, is part of said Sunday, going little
tion, which both sides de- that Moscow meddled in sanctions “until the reasons a bipartisan group of sena- beyond the brief White
scribed in positive terms. the 2016 election to help those sanctions were put in tors who have introduced House statement issued
Trump, who has said he Trump. place are resolved.” legislation that would ex- shortly after the call. q
wants a better relationship Sen. Rob Portman, a mem-
with Russia, has been non- ber of the Senate Foreign
committal on the matter, Relations Committee, said
and his spokesman, Sean it would be a “huge mis-
Spicer, said Sunday that no take for American foreign
White House says immigration

order a ‘small price’ for safety

JILL COLVIN unreasonable to ask a few
Associated Press more questions from some-
WASHINGTON (AP) — The one traveling in and out of
White House on Sunday Libya and Yemen before
tried to tamp down con- being let loose in the Unit-
cerns about President Don- ed States,” insisted Trump’s
ald Trump’s sweeping im- chief of staff Reince
migration order in the face Priebus. “And that’s all this
of widespread protests, as is.” As of Sunday afternoon,
some Republicans in Con- one legal permanent resi-
gress urged him to proceed dent had been denied en-
with caution in the face of try to the country as a result
legal pushback. Top con- of the order, according to
gressional Republicans, a federal law enforcement
however, remain largely official. The official was not
behind the new president. permitted to discuss the or-
During a round of Sunday der’s impact publicly and
show interviews, Trump’s spoke on the condition of
aides stressed that just a anonymity.
small portion of travelers The changes, said White
had been affected by the House adviser Kellyanne
order, which temporarily Conway, are “a small price
bars the citizens of seven to pay” to keep the nation
majority Muslim nations safe.
from entering the country. But it’s unclear whether the
The aides also reversed order, which also suspends
course and said that citi- refugee admissions for 120
zens of those countries days and indefinitely bars
who hold permanent U.S. the processing of refugees
residency “green cards” from Syria, will accomplish
will not be barred from re- that. The order does not
entering the country, as of- address homegrown ex-
ficials had previously said. tremists already in Ameri-
“I can’t imagine too many ca, a primary concern of
people out there watch- federal law enforcement
ing this right now think it’s officials. q