Senate

Dem senators to Trump pick: Probe if adviser violated Russia sanctions

by Jordain Carney - 01/19/17 3:31 PM ET

Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Ben Cardin (Md.) want Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Treasury Department to investigate if an adviser for the president-elect violated Russian sanctions.

The two senators sent a letter on Thursday to Steve Mnuchin asking him, if he’s confirmed, to look into a Bloomberg report that Anthony Scaramucci, appointed to be the director of engagement and intergovernmental affairs and an advisor, met with Kirill Dmitriev, head of the sanctioned Russian Direct Investment Fund.

“This raises questions about whether Mr. Scaramucci engaged in discussions to facilitate prohibited transactions with the sanctioned entity in violation of federal law, and about whether other Trump Administration transition officials were aware of or approved his activities,” they wrote in the letter.

{mosads}The Obama administration slapped sanctions on the fund in mid-2015. Under the financial penalties, conducting “certain financial transactions” with the organization could trigger fines and potential jail time.

The two Democratic senators want Mnuchin to probe if Scaramucci violated the sanctions law and if he advocated or pledged that Trump would eliminate current U.S sanctions.

Senators have raised concerns about Trump’s warmer tone toward Russia.

Warren and Cardin added in their letter that the reported meeting “raises questions about whether members of the Trump Administration may seek to circumvent or override U.S. sanctions.”

“The sanctions currently imposed on Russian individuals and entities are intended to exact specific costs on the Russian government for its continued enabling of activities that undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” they wrote.

They also want to know if Trump or his transition team are aware of Scaramucci’s meeting and if any member of Trump’s incoming administration have financial ties to the Russian fund.

Mnuchin pledged during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee that he or his staff would look into the matter if Cardin and Warren sent him their letter.

Tags Ben Cardin Donald Trump Elizabeth Warren