Tom Cotton: Russia Will 'Lie and Deny' UK Nerve Agent Attack

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said Tuesday Russia will likely "lie and deny" regarding allegations that it was behind an attempted assassination of a former Russian military officer who later spied for the British.

Cotton appeared on the "Hugh Hewitt Radio Show" and told the host the United States needs to stand with its closest ally across the Atlantic. UK Prime Minister Theresa May said Monday it appears Russia was behind the nerve agent attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia.

"I believe the prime minister of our old and strong ally, the United Kingdom. I believe Ms. May gave Russia until maybe the end of today or tomorrow to respond to it," Cotton said. "I suspect the response will be the typical Russian response. They'll lie and deny.

"And then Ms. May said they would enact retaliatory measures. And we should support the UK in that step, to include Article IV consultations under the NATO treaty if they request such consultations."

Cotton noted that the nerve agent used in last week's attack, which occurred in Salisbury, England, may have been from the Soviet era.

"Russia claimed to have destroyed all of their stores, but it appears that they might, shockingly, Hugh, have lied to the United States and to the West," Cotton said.

Cotton said plenty can be done to punish the Russian government if the allegations prove true, including raising the price of oil that's shipped there to providing weapons to Ukraine.

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