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(The Hill) – In a move that has sparked controversy, Democratic lawmakers, alongside a Republican ally, have demanded explanations from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Their inquiry focuses on the recent visit of sanctioned Russian legislators to the United States, including a tour of the U.S. Capitol, orchestrated by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.).
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) have all expressed their concerns in a letter. They pointed out that the meeting of these Russian lawmakers with Congress members and other officials is “deeply concerning.”
The legislators highlighted that due to the U.S. sanctions placed on these individuals following Russia’s aggressive invasion of Ukraine, their U.S. entry would necessitate special sanctions waivers. The letter emphasized the need for clarity on how these waivers were granted.
The representatives voiced alarm that the presence of State Duma members in Washington might jeopardize U.S. support for Ukraine and its European allies amidst ongoing conflict with Russia. They suggested that such a visit could offer legitimacy to Russian officials who have actively undermined international standards, which contradicts the foundational goals of the sanctions.
The letter seeks detailed responses regarding who authorized the sanctions waivers, the issuance of visas, the initiating office or agency behind the waivers, and the national security or foreign policy purposes served by their meetings, among other inquiries.
“At a minimum, the American people and Congress deserve full accounting of how and why this decision was made,” the letter continues. “The credibility of U.S. sanctions policy –– and our broader commitment to holding aggressors accountable –– depends on consistent and principled application.”
The Hill has reached out to the State and Treasury departments for comment.
Luna, who gave the lawmakers a tour of the Capitol on Thursday, has sought to position herself as a facilitator between the U.S. and Russia while pursuing peace in Ukraine.
“We are pushing for an ending to the war in Ukraine,” Luna previously told The Hill. “We want to make sure that there’s support from Congress in those peace talks as well as the president’s perspective on everything.”
The Russian delegation was led by Vyacheslav Alekseyevich Nikonov, chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the Duma. Other members of the delegation included Boris Aleksandrovich Chernyshov of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia, deputy chair of the State Duma; Mikhail Gennadyevich Delyagin, member of the party A Just Russia — For Truth; Vladimir Pavlovich Isakov, member of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation; and Svetlana Sergeyevna Zhurova, a member of the party United Russia.
All are subject to sanctions from the European Union, while others hold additional sanctions from the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and others.
Some of Luna’s GOP colleagues objected to the visit, including Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), who serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee with Luna. He called Russia “an adversary” and said he would “have questions about what the objectives are” having them visit the U.S.
Reps. Derrick Van Orden (R-Wis.), was one of four other U.S. members of Congress who met with the Russian delegation, including one Democrat, Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (Texas).
Van Orden told The Hill that the “journey of a thousand miles is starting with a single step.”
“They’re just people, I mean they’re diplomats, one guy I guarantee he used to be a KGB agent — that’s a very good, educated guess,” he said. “But pleasant enough.”