Sanders pushes to override Trump’s veto of Yemen resolution

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who is seeking the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination, is pushing for the Senate to hold a veto override vote on his resolution to withdraw U.S. military forces from Yemen’s civil war.

“The president’s action is a very serious challenge to congressional authority that demands a response,” Sanders wrote in a letter to fellow senators Monday.

{mosads}Last week, President Trump issued the second veto of his presidency on a resolution sponsored by Sanders that would have forced the president to withdraw U.S. military support from the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen’s civil war.

In vetoing the resolution, Trump argued it was “unnecessary” and “dangerous.”

“This resolution is an unnecessary, dangerous attempt to weaken my constitutional authorities, endangering the lives of American citizens and brave service members, both today and in the future,” Trump said in a statement to the Senate.

The resolution, which gained considerable momentum after the Saudis killed U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi in a consulate in Turkey, reached Trump’s desk after the House voted 247-175 earlier this month. That was preceded by the Senate’s 54-46 vote last month.

Neither the House nor Senate vote reached the two-thirds majority necessary to override a veto.

A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told The Hill last week he had no guidance on whether the Senate would hold a veto override vote. 

McConnell did not support the resolution. But Senate rules mean some sort of procedural vote to deal with Trump’s veto message is likely, according to the Congressional Research Service. 

The House cannot hold an override vote unless the Senate does first, since the resolution originated in the upper chamber.

In his letter, Sanders said the passage of the resolution was a “long overdue” step for the legislative branch to reassert its constitutional authority to declare war.

“The Congress must now act to protect that constitutional responsibility by overriding the president’s veto,” he wrote.

He argued that regardless of whether they supported the underlying resolution, senators should support a veto override vote to protect its constitutional right.

“I respect that some of you voted against the resolution and that some of you support our intervention in that war,” he wrote. “If you feel that way, bring that perspective to the floor of the Senate, debate the issue and call for a vote.”

“At the end of the day, however, let us agree that it is imperative that Congress reaffirm the power given to us by the Constitution over matters of war,” Sanders continued, “one of the most serious duties we have as members of Congress.” 

Updated at 1:07 p.m.