WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke to CNN’s Wolf Blitzer today about breaking news on the Rob Porter scandal and John Kelly’s role in it, the next steps in the Senate’s immigration debate, and the failure of the Trump Administration to levy any sanctions against Russia.

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On the President’s failure to impose any new penalties on Russia (9:16 mark) despite legislation Menendez co-authored requiring such sanctions, Menendez said, “It is obscene that the President won’t levy one sanction under the law that was passed almost unanimously by both houses against Russia. It’s like telling Russia, ‘you were welcomed in 2016 to interfere in our elections, and we look forward to your interventions in 2018.’ That cannot stand, and we’re going to pressure every way we can – maybe through the appropriations process or through withholding nominations – we will do what is necessary to get these sanctions enforced because it’s about changing behavior before these 2018 elections take place.”

On the White House’s changing story (0:52 mark) about when they knew about the domestic violence allegations against White House Social Secretary Rob Porter, Menendez said, “It’s pretty outrageous we keep getting different stories about what really happened here in the White House. Today’s statement by the FBI Director that they had the information and gave it to the White House speaks volumes about the President’s lack of concern on this issue.”

Menendez also spoke about the immigration debate (4:18 mark) happening in the Senate right now.

“What we can’t have is the ultra-nationalist, right-wing, ethno-centrists whispering into the President’s ear dictate what happens in Congress,” Menendez said. “Because if you want to do that, have a broad debate on immigration, I don’t want to talk about the 800,000 anymore, I want to talk about 11 million. That’s not what we’re here for.

On Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel’s Thursday deadline for getting a bill passed, Menendez said, “That’s a new obstacle I was unaware of until today. Never did we say this was going to be a two or three day debate on one of the most contentious issues before. I don’t think an arbitrary deadline should ultimately snuff out the dreams of these young people.”

Menendez emphasized that discussions of family reunification changes (derogatively referred to as “chain migration” by Republicans) are for a larger debate about comprehensive immigration reform, saying, “In order to find a path forward, we cannot be talking about a dramatic change in immigration policy, when you want to change the whole nature of even legal immigration. That’s a much broader debate. What we should be doing is narrowing the focus.”

On family reunification (what Republicans derogatorily refer to as “chain migration”), Menendez said, “I find it obscene, the phrase ‘chain migration.’ It is incredibly cruel to those whose ancestors were brought to this country in chains in slavery. It is a dehumanizing element of what is in essence, family reunification, which has been a core of U.S. immigration for over a century – the belief that when we have families together, that ultimately they strengthen not only themselves and help each other, but they help build our communities and help our nation.”

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