Intel: What’s in Congress’ new Turkey sanctions package

Infuriated with President Donald Trump for greenlighting Turkey’s offensive against the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units, Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., are turning to sanctions legislation.

Hours after Turkey began its incursion into northeast Syria Wednesday, the pair released the outline for a wide-ranging Turkey sanctions bill targeting Ankara’s defense and energy sectors as well as top Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The sanctions would expire when Turkey ends its incursion into northeast Syria.

“While the administration refuses to act against Turkey, I expect strong bipartisan support,” Graham wrote while releasing the sanctions outline on Twitter.

Why it matters: The bill includes harsh sanctions on the US ally — sanctions that are usually reserved for US adversaries such as Russia.