The push by Republicans and some Democrats in the Senate to reassert the role of Congress in the Iran nuclear talks comes after Congress ceded that role over the past five years, Sen. Bob Corker said Sunday.
"Four times since 2010 we have given the president the unilateral ability to put this in place through the U.N. Security Council," the Tennessee Republican said Sunday on CNN's
"State of the Union."
Now, Corker said, the Senate is saying the details of the recently reached framework are important and Congress should re-insert itself into the process.
"These details concern us, these details could destabilize the Middle East, could threaten Americans," he said.
Corker and New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez are authors of a bill that would require Congress to approve any deal with Iran. President Barack Obama had threatened to veto the bill, but when it became apparent Republicans would get enough Democrats on board to override a veto last week, the White House relented.
Corker said members of both parties have been motivated by fear that the Obama administration was more desperate for a deal than Iran is, and that may lead to the United States giving up too much.
"The public will never see the classified annexes," Corker said, "and on their behalf, they want someone, they want [Maryland Democratic] Sen. [Ben] Cardin, myself, our colleagues, the 98 others who will have the opportunity to do this to see those details prior to the sanctions being released, to be able to debate those and certainly to be able to make sure that they comply."
On another issue, Corker said he believes the holdup on confirmation of attorney general nominee Loretta Lynch will be resolved early this week. Republicans have put off a vote on Lynch, who was nominated in November, until a human trafficking bill is taken up.
Democrats oppose the bill because it contains language restricting federal funding for abortion.
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