McCain, Graham: Sanctions Are ‘Small Price For Russia To Pay’

FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2016, file photo, Republican members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., center, and committee chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., speak at a news conference on Cap... FILE - In this Feb. 24, 2016, file photo, Republican members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., center, and committee chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., speak at a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Graham and McCain are assembling a harsh critique of Donald Trump’s worldview by soliciting rebuttals from U.S. military leaders that challenge the accuracy and legality of his most provocative foreign policy positions. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) MORE LESS
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Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) released a joint statement Thursday calling President Barack Obama’s new sanctions against Russia a “small price” for the country to pay.

“The retaliatory measures announced by the Obama Administration today are long overdue,” Graham and McCain said in the statement. “But ultimately, they are a small price for Russia to pay for its brazen attack on American democracy. We intend to lead the effort in the new Congress to impose stronger sanctions on Russia.”

Graham and McCain are among the most vocal Republican lawmakers calling for action against Russia.

During an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” McCain said that he would like to create a select committee to investigate Russian hacking. And both McCain and Graham signed a letter calling on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) to set up a special committee to investigate Russian attempts to influence the 2016 election.

In an interview with CNN that aired on Tuesday, Graham said that “99 of us” out out of 100 senators agree that Russia was behind hacks into the Democratic National Committee and other Democratic groups during the presidential race.

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