Scoop: The White House asked a Republican senator to block a bill that punishes China over its encroachments in Hong Kong.

That senator, Kevin Cramer, obliged, blocking unanimous passage of the bill last week — even though he’s a co-sponsor of it.https://t.co/Udi0yKEwdR

— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) June 24, 2020

Cramer told me that 30 mins before Van Hollen tried to UC the bill, WH sent a list of proposed “technical” changes.

Cramer defended his decision, saying he hopes the bill eventually passes but that he wanted to try to “accommodate” the admin’s concerns.https://t.co/Udi0yKEwdR

— Andrew Desiderio (@AndrewDesiderio) June 24, 2020