Later in the afternoon, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a statement saying that 22 individual sales would be cleared through the exemption, saying the sales would help the countries deter and defend themselves from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
I intend for this determination to be a one-time event, Pompeo wrote, saying the exemption has been used by at least" four previous administrations. This specific measure does not alter our long-standing arms transfer review process with Congress.
Sen. Chris Murphy, the Connecticut Democrat who first raised the possibility Trump would use a loophole to push the sales through this week, said the move sets an incredibly dangerous precedent that future presidents can use to sell weapons without a check from Congress."
We have the constitutional duty to declare war and the responsibility to oversee arm sales that contravene our national security interests. If we dont stand up to this abuse of authority, we will permanently box ourselves out of deciding who we should sell weapons to, Murphy added.
Justin Amash, a Michigan Republican who in recent weeks has become a vocal critic of Trump, joined the criticism, tweeting that Trump"is (again) going around Congressthis time to unilaterally approve billions in arms sales, including to the brutal Saudi regime. Congress must reclaim its powers. When will the legislative branch stand up to the executive branch?"