Sunday shows — Officials rush to Trump’s defense on Syria, sanctions

by The Hill staff - 10/13/19 11:50 AM ET

Members of President Trump’s Cabinet including Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin appeared on the Sunday morning political talk shows to defend the president’s decision to remove U.S. troops from northern Syria ahead of a Turkish military operation and the delay of sanctions against Ankara.

Top Democrats also weighed in on the latest developments in the House’s impeachment inquiry into Trump.

Read The Hill’s complete coverage below.

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Defense chief defends Trump decision on Syria under questioning from Chris Wallace

By ZACK BUDRYK

Defense Secretary Mark Esper defended President Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria during an interview with Fox News’s Chris Wallace, insisting that Turkey was ready to invade the country to attack Kurdish forces regardless of the U.S. actions.

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Esper: Turkey ‘appears to be’ committing war crimes in northern Syria

By ZACK BUDRYK

Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Sunday that Turkey “appears to be” committing war crimes in its incursion into northern Syria.

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Mnuchin defends delay in sanctions against Turkey: ‘This is a complicated, developing situation’

By KYLE BALLUCK

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday defended a delay in imposing sanctions on Turkey, saying the Trump administration is ready to move forward “at a moment’s notice” over Ankara’s military action in northern Syria.

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Senate Democrat on Turkey sanctions: ‘For God’s sake, what are they waiting for?’

By ZACK BUDRYK

“For God’s sake, what are they waiting for? People are being killed right now,” Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said on “Fox News Sunday.”

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GOP senator defends Trump’s decision on Syria

By JUSTINE COLEMAN

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) on Sunday defended President Trump’s decision to withdraw U.S. troops from northern Syria, a move that preceded an offensive by Turkish forces against Kurdish allies of the U.S. in the region.

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GOP congressman: ‘We all know’ Turkey wouldn’t have attacked if US troops remained at border

By ZACK BUDRYK

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) on Sunday sharply criticized President Trump’s decision to remove U.S. troops from northeastern Syria, saying the 50 U.S. troops stationed at the border with Turkey would have prevented Turkish forces from advancing into the country.

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Engel: ‘I’m disgusted’ US president would be comfortable with Erdogan

By JUSTINE COLEMAN

“Erdogan’s a bad guy, and I’m disgusted that the American president would feel comfortable with a guy like Erdogan,” House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) told host Chuck Todd on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

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Mattis warns ‘ISIS will resurge’ without US pressure on Syria

By JOHN BOWDEN

Former Defense Secretary James Mattis said in a new interview that ISIS will become stronger in northern Syria and Iraq if U.S.-aligned forces do not maintain pressure in the region.

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Intelligence Committee Democrat: ‘No requirement’ for impeachment inquiry vote

By KYLE BALLUCK

Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), a member of the House Intelligence Committee, said on Sunday that the lower chamber may vote on the impeachment inquiry into President Trump, but stressed that there is “no requirement for it,” defending the way his party is handling the issue.

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Schiff: ‘Republicans would like nothing better’ than for impeachment inquiry witnesses to coordinate testimony

By ZACK BUDRYK

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) defended conducting closed interviews as part of the House impeachment inquiry, suggesting House Republicans wanted public hearings so witnesses could coordinate their testimony.

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Bannon: Trump ‘is going to have to rethink his legal team’

By JOHN BOWDEN

President Trump’s former top aide Stephen Bannon says that his old boss should consider shaking up his legal team, and in particular appeared to call for the removal of Rudy Giuliani.

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Buttigieg knocks Trump as a ‘walking conflict of interest’

By JUSTINE COLEMAN

Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg on Sunday called out President Trump as a “walking conflict of interest.”

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Sanders on difference with Warren: She’s a capitalist ‘I’m not

By JOHN BOWDEN

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said in a new interview that a major difference between him and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is Warren’s support of capitalism.

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