On Oct 9, President Trump announced a deal with Putin for Russia to supply ∼300,000 tons of diesel immediately, with more in November. The stated reason is to lower soaring US diesel prices before the Nov 3 midterms. The Treasury then issued *General License No. 135* to temporarily authorize Russian diesel imports until April 7, 2027.$ESPORTS $IDOL $TRUMP
- Three tankers with about 140,000 tonnes (one report says 7 tankers / 288,000 tonnes total) left St Petersburg in mid-October. The first, Malta-flagged *Agioi Fanendes* with 40,000 tons, left Oct 22 and was signaling New York / New Jersey for Nov 7 arrival. Two others, *Talisman* (Russian-owned, under US+EU sanctions) and *Leruo* (Hong Kong-owned, under EU/UK/Canada sanctions), are signaling "Atlantic Coast." All three are now listing "for orders" - meaning they have no confirmed buyer/port yet.
*Why Congress says it's illegal:*
In 2022 Congress passed the *Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act*, which bans Russian energy imports unless the President certifies Russia has ceased hostilities in Ukraine and consults Congress.
On Oct 26, Rep. Jamie Raskin wrote to API, US Chamber of Commerce and AFPM saying:
> "Your members are now on notice that taking part in any effort to help President Putin hawk Russian diesel in the U.S. is a clear and dangerous violation of federal law."
He warned of civil penalties up to twice the transaction value, and criminal penalties up to $1M fine and 20 years in prison, because the President cannot override a statute with a Treasury license.
A bipartisan group (Shaheen, Wyden, Whitehouse, Coons, Warren, Republican Thom Tillis + Rep Meeks) also warned JPMorgan, BofA, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Goldman, Morgan Stanley and the ports of Houston, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, and NY/NJ to preserve records and not facilitate the imports.
*New Jersey part:*
New Jersey Gov. *Mikie Sherrill* (the FT report spells her first name Mikie, not Michelle) told FT Oct 30:
- Three tankers with about 140,000 tonnes (one report says 7 tankers / 288,000 tonnes total) left St Petersburg in mid-October. The first, Malta-flagged *Agioi Fanendes* with 40,000 tons, left Oct 22 and was signaling New York / New Jersey for Nov 7 arrival. Two others, *Talisman* (Russian-owned, under US+EU sanctions) and *Leruo* (Hong Kong-owned, under EU/UK/Canada sanctions), are signaling "Atlantic Coast." All three are now listing "for orders" - meaning they have no confirmed buyer/port yet.
*Why Congress says it's illegal:*
In 2022 Congress passed the *Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act*, which bans Russian energy imports unless the President certifies Russia has ceased hostilities in Ukraine and consults Congress.
On Oct 26, Rep. Jamie Raskin wrote to API, US Chamber of Commerce and AFPM saying:
> "Your members are now on notice that taking part in any effort to help President Putin hawk Russian diesel in the U.S. is a clear and dangerous violation of federal law."
He warned of civil penalties up to twice the transaction value, and criminal penalties up to $1M fine and 20 years in prison, because the President cannot override a statute with a Treasury license.
A bipartisan group (Shaheen, Wyden, Whitehouse, Coons, Warren, Republican Thom Tillis + Rep Meeks) also warned JPMorgan, BofA, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Goldman, Morgan Stanley and the ports of Houston, Corpus Christi, Beaumont, and NY/NJ to preserve records and not facilitate the imports.
*New Jersey part:*
New Jersey Gov. *Mikie Sherrill* (the FT report spells her first name Mikie, not Michelle) told FT Oct 30:
