From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, June 5, 2019
US senators launch bipartisan bid to block Saudi arms sales
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleWASHINGTON — Republicans and Democrats are banding together to try and stop the Trump administration’s sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia.
Democratic Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey and others are introducing 22 Senate resolutions to halt the sales. The move threatens to tangle up the Senate in a series of votes this summer.
It’s unclear whether the resolutions will pass, but the support of Republican senators Lindsey Graham and Ran Paul underscores the breadth of bipartisan opposition to the administration’s policy.
Trump invoked emergency powers to sell arms to the Saudis and the United Arab Emirates without congressional review. The senators say the use of the power was unprecedented and can be challenged.
Lawmakers have grown increasingly critical of US-Saudi ties since the killing of US-based columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
— AP
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