Raskin warns oil industry that importing Russian diesel could bring criminal penalties

Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat and the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter on Monday, Oct. 26, warning the oil industry about President Trump's Russian diesel deal. He wrote to the heads of the American Petroleum Institute, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers ².

Raskin says companies that import Russian diesel under the arrangement would be breaking the law. He told the groups their members are on notice ².

What Raskin says the law requires

Raskin points to the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act of 2022. It put into law President Biden's ban on Russian energy imports ².

Under that law, a president must consult Congress before lifting the ban. He must also certify that Russia has met conditions, including an agreement accepted by Ukraine's elected government to withdraw Russian forces and stop fighting ². Raskin says Trump did not follow those steps before the Treasury Department's sanctions office issued General License No. 135 ².

From Channel GOPRaskin: Maxwell got the Trump hotel treatmentJamie Raskin · 6 plays · captioned, with the source named

He cites penalties of up to twice the value of a transaction in civil cases. Criminal penalties he cites run up to $1 million in fines and 20 years in prison ². The statute of limitations is 10 years, so the legal risk would extend past Trump's term ².

The deal and the pushback

Trump announced the deal on social media on Friday, Oct. 9, after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He said Russia would immediately supply more than 300,000 tons of diesel, followed by 500,000 tons in November and 1 million tons soon after ¹.

Two days later, six senators objected. They were Democrats Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, and Republicans Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Thom Tillis of North Carolina and John Curtis of Utah. Their statement said the decision "runs directly counter" to the 2022 ban. It added: "The Administration must immediately reverse course." ¹

The senators also said the administration did not consult Congress or explain its decision, as they argue the law requires ¹. Sen. John Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican, defended the move. The Associated Press quoted him saying the president has to make tough decisions ¹.

Why it matters at the pump

The deal was pitched as a way to ease fuel costs. Richard Nephew of Columbia University told the AP the total appears to be less than what the United States uses in a single day ¹. The AP also reported that energy experts said the deal is unlikely to make a dent in high prices at the pump ¹.

The AP also noted that Trump has recently blamed record U.S. diesel prices on Ukraine rather than on the U.S.-led war in Iran ¹.

A ranking member's letter carries no legal force by itself. Raskin's letter warns companies that proceed that they will be held accountable "in this Administration — or the next" ². Whether any company faces charges would be up to future prosecutors and courts.

The Record

1. Jan 1, 2022Congress wrote the ban on Russian energy imports into law as the Ending Importation of Russian Oil Act ².
2. Oct 9, 2026Trump announced a diesel deal with Russia after a call with Putin ¹.
3. Oct 11, 2026Six senators, two Democrats and four Republicans, urged the administration to reverse course ¹.
4. Oct 26, 2026Raskin warned oil industry groups of civil and criminal liability for importing Russian diesel ².

Sources

1. AP (via News4Jax), “Six senators call for Trump administration to immediately reverse course on Russian diesel plan” (2026-10-11). news4jax.com/news/politics/2026/10/11/six-senators-call-for-
2. House Judiciary Committee Democrats, “Ranking Member Raskin Puts Oil Industry On Notice: Anyone Helping Trump and Putin Evade America's Ban on Russian Oil Could Face Criminal Penalties” (2026-10-26). democrats-judiciary.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ra

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