Top Dem lawmaker sees bipartisan support for stronger sanctions on Russia

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said Sunday that there is bipartisan support in Congress for stronger sanctions on Russia.

Schiff, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told ABC’s “This Week” that President-elect Donald Trump would be “smart” to accept the sanctions President Obama imposed on Russia for meddling in the U.S. election.

“If the Trump folks are smart or shrewd politically, they would view it that way. They would say, ‘Look, he took care of the reprisals. It really didn’t throw off relations with Russia in terms of how I’m going to start my presidency. He cleaned the deck for me.’ ”

Schiff said, however, that Congress does not share that view.

{mosads}“We think that more has to be done. We don’t think that, frankly, the steps that have been taken are enough of a deterrent.”

Schiff said there is bipartisan support in Congress for more sanctions against Russia. He also predicted that action would be “even more vigorous” if Trump moves to undo what President Obama has done.

“You’re going to see Republicans like [Sen. John] McCain and [Sen. Lindsey] Graham and others come together with a strong sanctions package.”