Republican senator Tillis says US diesel deal with Russia may be illegal

Republican Senator Thom Tillis said on Sunday that the Trump administration's diesel supply deal with Russia, under which US sanctions on Russian fuel were temporarily lifted, may be unlawful and puts American lives at risk, Reuters reports. Critics argue the arrangement runs against the intent of the sweeping Russia sanctions law signed last month and named after the late Lindsey Graham. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News the administration would proceed under existing legal authority and that the deal would bring prices down, rejecting claims that the Graham law or an older bill forbids it. Former vice president Mike Pence called it a "betrayal" of Graham's legacy; Senator John Barrasso defended it as a bid to cut consumer costs.

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