WASHINGTON – When President Joe Biden left the White House on Wednesday, there were reporters waiting with questions about the Ukraine-Russia war and protesters asking his administration to stop oil purchases of oil from Russia.
A reporter wanted Biden’s reaction to the International Criminal Court’s announcement of an investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine before and during Russia’s invasion. Russia faced criticism over the use of cluster bombs.
“We are following it very closely; it’s too early to say that,” Biden said before boarding Marine One.
Biden had already marked the Catholics’ first day of Lent on ash Wednesday and received the sign of a cross on his forehead. He had also banned Russian flights from its airspace and announced it during his State of the Union address Tuesday night. He was also juggling promoting his infrastructure bill and his supreme court nominee.
The Pentagon unveiled sanctions on 22 entities related to the Russian defense. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. response to the Russia-Ukraine conflict has been severe.
“These sanctions and restrictions have had a horrible impact on Russia’s economy. Their Ruble has dropped,” Blinken said.
U.S. lobbying firms were ending deals with Russian businesses. The U.S. House approved a resolution “steadfastly, staunchly, proudly and fervently” in support of Ukraine.
Judge Ketanki Brown Jackson, Biden’s supreme court nominee to succeed Justice Stephen Breyer, started her private meetings with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky. After meeting with the Miami Palmetto Senior High School graduate, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-New York, said the Senate will move her nomination “expeditiously.”
“I am just so pleased that the president has nominated someone with such amazing qualification and experience,” Schumer said.
If confirmed, the Miami-Dade County native will become the first Black woman to serve in the Supreme Court. U.S. Sen. Rick Scott hasn’t made up his mind about whether or not he will vote in favor of the nomination.
“I will meet with her; I’ll talk with her, of course, be very respectful and then I’ll make a good decision for Florida,” Scott said.
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