Ben Cardin actually said...

"The United States should apply targeted pressure against those elements of the security apparatus in Russia that tortured and killed the very individuals who were trying to make the government account..."

"It needs to cover people responsible for the range of very serious, the most serious human rights abuses in Russia."

"I appreciate the concerns some in the administration have expressed that such measures might undermine the bilateral relationship between Russia and the United States."

"If the administration won't act in this way, then the Congress should advance and ultimately enact Senator Cardin's bill."