Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement after the Senate overwhelmingly, by a vote of 98-2, approved sanctions against Russia for its interference in the 2016 elections:

“The sanctions that were approved by the Senate today are an appropriate response to Russia’s brazen interference in our election. The legislation expands and strengthens existing sanctions against Russia’s energy, financial and defense sectors. It also gives Congress the authority to block the president from waiving, modifying or lifting sanctions against Russia.

“While today’s vote will impose a cost on Russia’s behavior, I continue to believe that our two countries must work together to resolve the Syrian civil war and reduce the threat of nuclear war. The United States and Russia are both upgrading their nuclear arsenals in a tit-for-tat game that I fear will lower the threshold for nuclear war. That cannot be allowed to happen.”

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