U.S. Congressmen Demand Investigation of Navalny ‘Poisoning’ and Threaten Sanctions

Reps. Eliot Engel (D-NY) and Michael McCaul (R-TX), both members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, are demanding that President Donald Trump investigate whether chemical weapons were used to poison Alexey Navalny, and if so, impose sanctions on Russia. Their request triggers part of the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act of 1991, requiring a 60-day evaluation period and, “if a determination is made that chemical weapons were used, a sanctions process is laid out under the Act.” Since Trump imposed sanctions on Russia following the Skripal poisoning, they argue, if Russia is now behind Navalny’s poisoning, then it should be subject to further sanctions. “Those responsible for this despicable attack must be held accountable, and Russian President Vladimir Putin must know that he and his cronies will not be allowed to violate international law with impunity.”