Thread by @dcpoll

–The State Department has scrapped its sanctions office–
The Trump administration was three weeks late on the Russia sanctions deadline. But it’s killed the office that coordinates them.
#Maddow foreignpolicy.com/2017/10/26/sta…

Ever since Rex Tillerson scrapped the sanctions coordination office last year, the US Gov't has faced a critical ‘Brain Drain’ of sanctions experts. The State Dept’s most experienced UN-based sanctions expert stepped down on Friday.
#Maddow foreignpolicy.com/2018/01/19/uni…

Russian gas defies US sanctions to reach New England this weekend, making it the first shipment of gas from Russia to ever reach the US. The ship's circuitous route drew attention from energy traders.
Treasury & State Dept had no comment.
#Maddow #AMJoy politi.co/2ndHc2y

The Russian gas is aboard a French vessel, which has been anchored in Mass Bay since Wed, undergoing inspections. "We alerted authorities there's a mixture of gas aboard this cargo. I don’t believe they’ve flagged the RU gas as a concern."
#Maddow #AMJoy

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The Russian fuel shipment arriving in New England this weekend originated at a new $27B terminal which was inaugurated by Putin last month & is operated by Yamal LNG, a company that has been on the Treasury Dept’s sanctions list since 2014.
#Maddow #AMJoy

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A SECOND tanker carrying Russian natural gas may be on the way to the US [due to dock Feb 15], following in the footsteps of a ship now docked near Boston Harbor carrying similar cargo – the first shipment of gas from Russia to ever reach the US.
#Maddow hellenicshippingnews.com/as-siberian-ga…

Deadine for implementing latest round of Russian sanctions is TODAY. Treasury is required to begin imposing sanctions against entities doing business with Russia’s defense & intel sectors and produce a list of oligarchs with close ties to Putin.
#Maddow politi.co/2DJsHxW

State Dept: "Trump admin has notified Congress that last year’s bipartisan Russia sanctions bill is serving as a 'deterrent' and as such, SPECIFIC SANCTIONS AREN'T NEEDED AT THIS TIME. When & if we have sanctions to announce, we will do so." WTAF?
#Maddow

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State Dept spox: "Trump admin has notified Congress that last year’s bipartisan Russia sanctions bill is serving as a 'deterrent' and as such, SPECIFIC SANCTIONS AREN'T NEEDED AT THIS TIME."
#Maddow

"the Russian fighter came within five feet of the American aircraft-"
Of course. Because Russia knows Trump will let them get away with ANYTHING. He has to. Putin owns his sorry ass.
#Maddow

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Trump Admin baffles & enrages lawmakers with latest punt on Russia sanctions: "No new punishments needed bc the mere threat of punishment was enough."
Trump has ignored the will of Congress & abdicated its responsibility to hold Russia accountable.
#Maddow thebea.st/2DNdwE7?source…

CIA Chief Pompeo: "I have every expectation Russia will target US mid-term elections. I haven't seen a significant decrease in their activity."
Of course they will! Trump admin rewarded Russia today for their inference in 2016.
via @gordoncorera #Maddow bbc.com/news/world-us-…

Trump Team included Putin's VICTIMS on Russian 'Oligarch List.' Treasury has confirmed they just copied names from Forbes list of Russian billionaires [to show Congress that Trump complied with sanctions law – which he never planned to enforce].
#Maddow thebea.st/2DOQrkg?source…

Russia’s sanctioned spy chief reportedly met with CIA Director Pompeo in the US recently. The head of RU's foreign intel service, which masterminded 2016 election interference, spoke to Pompeo about "working together on terrorism."
HT @hopeformaybe #Maddow thebea.st/2noV9uK?source…

"There was serious consideration by new Trump WH to unilaterally rescind all sanctions. I received 'panicky' calls from gov't officials who had been directed to develop a sanctions-lifting package." -former chief coordinator for sanctions policy
#Maddow

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Russian spy chiefs DC mtg w/ CIA director Pompeo alarmed US officials: Moscow might see that as a sign the Trump admin has moved past election interference. "Can't recall so many RU espionage chiefs coming to DC at once & mtg w/ a top US official."
#Maddow wapo.st/2nqqpZA?tid=ss…

Sanctioned Russian spy chief says that info about their meeting with CIA Director Pompeo [news of which was not released to US MSM] may have been leaked [by Russia] in retaliation for "The Kremlin List."
#Maddow

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For months, Russian elite dreaded the "Kremlin list" to be released by WH Jan 29. But at the last minute [after Pompeo met w/Russian spy chiefs?], someone high up in Trump admin threw out experts’ work & used the Forbes list instead.
HT @toshea66 #Maddow theatlantic.com/international/…

Massachusetts delegation, @SenMarkey & @sethmoulton, sound alarm over Russian gas shipment which arrived in MA last week – & another on its way. Markey blasted the possible sanction violation in a letter to Tillerson & Mnuchin.
State Dept: Oh well.
#Maddow bostonglobe.com/business/2018/…

“The gas comes at the cost of Ukrainian blood. That’s too high of a price.”
The Russian gas originated at a terminal operated by Novatek & Yamal LNG [owned by Putin ally Timchenko]. Both have been sanctioned since Moscow's 2014 invasion of Crimea.
#Maddow

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