McCain on Russia sanctions: 'We cannot reward misbehavior'

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John McCain reacts to Chelsea Manning commutation

Arizona Senator joins 'The O'Reilly Factor' to discuss President Obama's decision

Sen. John McCain told Fox News' "The O'Reilly Factor" Wednesday that he would be "deeply, deeply disappointed" if President-elect Donald Trump rolls back sanctions against Russia after taking office.

The Arizona Republican told Bill O'Reilly that he hopes Trump's advisers, including Defense Secretary nominee James Mattis, can persuade the president-elect to take a hard line against Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"We cannot reward misbehavior, we have to go back to Ronald Reagan: Peace through strength," McCain said. "Get strong and then deal with [Putin], and that way is the only way we can get there."

McCain also criticized Obama's commutation of Wikileaks source Chelsea Manning's prison sentence, saying that he felt "outrage, frustration and sorrow" at the news.

"Sorrow for the families of those individuals identified in these leaks in Afghanistan that the Taliban went after and murdered," McCain said, "and rage because this president is basically endorsing a proposal that allows someone to go free who’s responsible for the needless deaths of those people who are our allies.

"What do you say to their families, Bill?”

McCain also said that Obama's rationale for the commutation — that Manning had served a "tough" and "disproportionate" sentence — was "outrageous."

"What is more egregious than providing the enemy with information that would help them, which over time puts the lives of the men and women serving in the uniform in greater danger?" McCain asked. "And is there any argument that anyone could have that Wikileaks didn’t do that?"