Cotton: Obama ‘Cannot Waive Sanctions’ Until Congress Gets Secret Agreements

‘Many Democrats are very concerned about the process the administration is taking over the last week’

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

FORD: Tom, good morning. Harold Ford. I think secretary Kerry is expected to come before one of the relevant committees in the Senate today. Two questions. One, do you believe these questions will be asked directly of him? And what traction are you getting with Democrats? We're reading that there are Democrats skeptical of this and some who urged secretary Kerry to be more respectful of the democratic skepticism.

COTTON: Yeah. Harold, we discussed this yesterday in a closed setting. Both the closed settings, secretary Kerry did confirm the existence of the agreements but I wouldn't disclose the contents. I expect you'll see more public testimony today. Many Democrats are very concerned about the process the administration is taking over the last week. First, going to the United Nations Security Council before they came to the American people and now not disclosing first the existence and now the content of the agreements. Many Democrats are concerned on the kro ses grounds and what the contents may say and what the administration conceded in terms of disclosure of Iran's past military dimensions of the nuclear program and inspections at the military site.

GEIST: So senator, what would you expect to happen today? If after a closed session with secretary Kerry he does not outline what is in this agreement with the IAEA. What is going -- what is the next step?

COTTON: Under federal law, as passed by Congress earlier this year, the administration has 60 days in which they can't wave sanctions until they submit all agreements. That includes any agreement between Iran and the IAEA. My position is the president cannot waive sanctions until he submits the agreements and there is a 60-day clock that begins to run. The status of the agreement between the IAEA and Iran doesn't matter so much for U.S. Law was the administration has an obligation under U.S. Law to obtain the agreements and submit them to Congress so we can review them on behalf of the American people.”

Video files
Full
Compact
Audio files
Full
Compact