The Senate advanced a measure Tuesday that would force President Trump to end military action against Iran in the absence of congressional approval, as four Republicans broke with the White House.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), three days removed from a humiliating primary defeat that dashed his hopes for a third term, joined Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Rand Paul of Kentucky in advancing the so-called war powers resolution pushed by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.)
Three additional Republicans — John Cornyn of Texas, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama — missed the vote on the measure, which advanced, 50-47. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was the only Democrat to vote against the resolution.
Tuesday’s vote was the eighth Senate roll call taken on stopping the Iran war since the launch of Operation Epic Fury Feb. 28, with Republicans having enough votes — including Cassidy’s — to defeat the previous seven attempts.
Cassidy, one of three Republicans still in the Senate who voted to convict Trump after he was impeached by the House for incitement of insurrection following the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, told reporters upon his return to Washington Monday that he had no regrets about that decision.
“That may have cost me my seat, but who cares? I had the privilege of voting to uphold the Constitution. Isn’t that a great thing?” he said. “When I die, if that’s put in my obituary, ‘he voted to uphold the Constitution’ — I’ll figure that that’s going to be a better obituary.”
Following Tuesday’s vote, Cassidy said on social media that “[w]hile I support the administration’s efforts to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, the White House and Pentagon have left Congress in the dark on Operation Epic Fury.”
“Until the administration provides clarity, no congressional authorization or extension can be justified,” he added.
On the other side of the Capitol, the House is expected to vote on a similar war powers resolution Wednesday. A nearly identical measure failed last week after the vote ended in a 212-212 tie.
The White House has insisted that the fragile cease-fire with Iran that has been in effect since April 8 puts the administration in compliance with the War Powers Act of 1973, which stipulates the president must notify Congress within 48 hours of military action and prohibits armed forces from remaining in theater for more than 60 days.
Trump himself has insisted the law, which was enacted by Congress after overriding a veto by President Richard Nixon, is unconstitutional.
On Monday, the president called off plans to resume striking Iran, saying the following day that he had been “an hour away” from ordering fresh military action before changing his mind following outreach from America’s Gulf Arab partners.
“Peace negotiations are stuck and so day after day after day grocery prices climb, gas prices climb,” Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said in a floor speech ahead of the vote.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) acknowledged that while he and most of his GOP colleagues support the war, more are growing concerned about the administration’s long-term plan in the Middle East.
“I think,” he went on, “a number of our members maybe just feel like it’s time to have the debate.”
