House Republicans join rebuke of Trump for easing Russia sanctions

More than 130 US House Republicans joined Democrats Thursday in opposing the easing of sanctions against an ally of Russia's Vladimir Putin, dealing a rebuke to President Donald Trump's administration. The Democratic-controlled chamber overwhelmingly voted 362 to 53 approving the bill that would block the Treasury Department's December move to lift sanctions on companies connected to Oleg Deripaska. The oligarch was targeted last year as part of US congressional efforts to punish Russia for interfering in the 2016 presidential race.