New Jersey Governor Warns Ports Against Accepting Russian Diesel Shipments

New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, warned port officials and terminal operators in a letter against accepting imported Russian diesel, saying shipments would violate federal law. She wrote that Congress banned energy imports from Russia in April 2022, two months after its attack on Ukraine, and that violations could bring civil and criminal charges. Sherrill said the state would use legal and regulatory powers to keep Russian diesel out of its ports, and that at least one Russian tanker may be headed for the New Jersey coast. She argued that President Trump and the Treasury Department lack blanket authority to waive the sanctions through licenses. The letter follows an October Truth Social post in which Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin had agreed to release millions of tons of diesel over three months, and a Treasury announcement on Oct. 9 of a temporary general license for Russian diesel supply to the global market. AAA showed diesel averaging about $6.29 per gallon nationwide on Tuesday, down from $6.50 weeks earlier.

CBS News, representing the left, leads with the letter, which it dates Nov. 2, and the legal argument, then features Sherrill's statement accusing Trump of backing Putin at Americans' expense and helping finance the war in Ukraine, along with her Navy veteran background. Its framing is political and legal rather than economic. Alternative outlet ZeroHedge calls it a ban on "illegal Russian fuel" and says it complicates Trump's effort to ease high fuel prices amid a refining squeeze, citing pump prices and a Phillips 66 executive. Straight Arrow News stresses that penalties could be levied after Trump leaves office. Both accounts agree on the letter, the law and the Trump-Putin arrangement. Right-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while left-leaning and alternative outlets had.