washington u.s. senate vote overwhelmingly wednesday new sanction punish russia meddle 2016 u.s. election force president donald trump get congress approval ease exist sanction vote 97 two legislation file amendment iran sanction bill intend punish russia issue include allege meddle election annexation ukraine crimea region support government syria country six-year-long civil war measure set process congress review change sanction put law action previously establish via presidential executive order impose new sanction russians find guilty human right abuse conduct cyber attack nl1n1ja056 introduce amid intense focus u.s. capital relations russia investigations department justice congressional committees whether russia seek influence 2016 u.s. elections help elect trump whether trump associate collude moscow seek influence election moscow deny activity trump dismiss sour grapes democrats defeat iran bill include russia sanction amendment expect pass senate thursday late wednesday take effect measure would also pass house representatives sign law trump trump object backers say expect enough congressional support override veto today senate finally confront russia interfere elections bipartisan amendment sanction regime kremlin deserve action say democratic senator jeanne shaheen leader push legislation two vote russia bill republican senators mike lee rand paul senate back legislation slap new sanction russia