Senior Democratic leaders accused President Trump of “kissing up” to Russia and failing to act in the wake of Friday's story in the New York Times about an alleged Russian plot to pay Taliban militants bounties for the killing of US troops in Afghanistan. Moscow has denied the claims and blasted the paper over its evidence-free reporting.
New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez, ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has formally introduced an amendment into 2021 National Defense Authorization Act legislation requiring the US to impose asset freezes against Russian President Vladimir Putin, Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu, and other Russian officials allegedly involved in the targeting of US and allied forces in Afghanistan, and banning their entry into the United States.
Among the other provisions of the 14 page amendment are banking restrictions on entities affiliated with the Russian defence sector, and expanded sanctions against Russian businessmen.
Menendez's bill is the first of its kind amid calls by senior Democratic leaders this week asking the White House to respond to the serious allegations made in the New York Times story.
Menendez and his fellow Democratic senators have also asked Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Pentagon Chief Esper to testify on the bounty claims.
Trump stepped up his attacks on what he termed the “discredited @nytimes” earlier Wednesday with a pair of tweets in…
