McConnell calls for Senate hearings on Russia sanctions

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellRyan, McConnell brought props to meeting to talk Trump out of government shutdown: report Booker defies GOP warning, releases another batch of 'confidential' Kavanaugh docs Trump in good shape to secure second Supreme Court confirmation victory MORE (R-Ky.) on Thursday said he has asked two key Senate panels to hold hearings on Russia sanctions and make suggestions for legislation.

McConnell met with Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob CorkerRobert (Bob) Phillips CorkerGOP senator: ‘Who wouldn’t’ write anonymous op-ed against White House? Poll: Blackburn, Bredesen locked in tight Senate race in Tennessee Kavanaugh refuses to answer questions on Trump pardons MORE (R-Tenn.) and Banking Committee Chairman Mike CrapoMichael (Mike) Dean CrapoLive coverage: Trump court pick returns for final day of questioning Overnight Health Care: Senate approves massive bill including health spending | Bill includes drug pricing measure | Move to block Planned Parenthood funding fails Overnight Defense: Senate passes massive defense, domestic spending bill | Duncan Hunter to step down from committees | Pompeo names North Korea envoy MORE (R-Idaho) on Wednesday night to discuss steps to advance legislation following President TrumpDonald John TrumpTiger Woods calls Nike's Kaepernick campaign a 'beautiful spot' EPA lost more than 1,500 workers in first 18 months of Trump administration: report Trump: Races that GOP was not thinking about winning 'are now very close' MORE's meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki earlier this week.

"I tasked the chairmen of the Banking and Foreign Relations committees with holding hearings on the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, and to recommend to the Senate additional measures that could respond to or deter Russian malign behavior," McConnell said in a statement Thursday.

Congress overwhelmingly passed Russia sanctions last year as part of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, despite pushback from the White House.

Senate leadership is under growing pressure to pass additional sanctions legislation following the Trump-Putin summit amid heightened concerns that Russia is trying to meddle in the November elections.

McConnell added on Thursday that he requested the hearings and recommendations on potential legislative steps as part of Congress's effort "to form part of any national response" to Russian interference in the United States or other countries.

GOP senators have been locked in a days-long debate over what they should do to try to crack down on Russia. One bill, which is gathering momentum among senators on both sides of the aisle, would slap new sanctions on Russia if the director of national intelligence finds that they interfere in future U.S. elections.

Sen. Marco RubioMarco Antonio RubioBringing literacy to the world A path forward on paid family leave Overnight Defense: Officials rush to deny writing anonymous op-ed | Lawmakers offer measure on naming NATO headquarters after McCain | US, India sign deal on sharing intel MORE (R-Fla.) told reporters on Wednesday that lawmakers were discussing whether to send his legislation directly to the Senate floor since going through the committee process could slow down any legislative response.

Another bill, from Sen. Cory GardnerCory Scott GardnerCentrist Dems defend tough tactics at Kavanaugh hearing Colorado Dem questions White House on 'intentional effort to mislead the American people' on marijuana GOP senator confident Trump will support states rights on marijuana MORE (R-Colo.), would ask the State Department to determine if Russia is a state sponsor of terrorism, a designation that triggers U.S. sanctions.

The effort to move forward on Russia legislation comes as congressional Republicans have been reluctant to confront Trump on a range of issues, including immigration and trade. A showdown could spark backlash from the party's fervent base, where the president remains popular, just months before the midterms.

Republicans on Capitol Hill have released a flurry of statements in recent days saying that they disagreed with Trump's hesitancy to say Russia meddled in the 2016 election.

“The Intelligence Community Assessment of Russian Activities in the 2016 elections makes clear that President Vladimir Putin ordered an influence campaign aimed at undermining public faith in our democratic process," McConnell said on Thursday.