Democrats demand answers on sanctioned Russian lawmakers visiting Capitol [View all]

Source: The Hill

Democratic lawmakers and one Republican colleague on Friday demanded answers from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about why sanctioned Russian lawmakers visited the U.S. and toured the U.S. Capitol building this week, a visit organized by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.).

The letter, signed by Reps. Dina Titus (D-Nev.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Jim Costa (D-Calif.) and Chellie Pingree (D-Maine), called the lawmakers’ visit to meet with some members of Congress and other officials “deeply concerning.”

“Because these individuals are subject to U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russia’s full-scale, unjustified invasion of Ukraine, their entry into the United States would have required the issuance of sanctions waivers,” the letter reads.

The House members warn that the State Duma members’ “presence in Washington risks undermining” U.S. efforts supporting Ukraine and European allies amid the war with Russia. They argued that the visit legitimizes Russian officials who have been actively involved in “the dismantling of international rules and norms” and goes against “the core purpose of sanctions policy itself.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5805300-democrats-question-russian-lawmakers-us-capitol-visit/