Political Quotes

“I am so grateful to the exceptional leadership of the House Foreign Affairs Committee for shepherding this resolution to the floor and calling on the Russian Federation to immediately release Paul Whelan. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman McCaul, Ranking Member Meeks, our subcommittee leadership, Chairman Kean, and Ranking Member Keating for their steady bipartisan urgency in the consideration of H. Res. 272. Paul Whelan has been wrongfully detained by the Kremlin since I was first elected to Congress in the winter of 2018. The first time I introduced this legislation demanding that Russia release my constituent, I was eager to assure Paul and his family that his government was behind him. The second time, I was heartbroken that he was still waiting for justice. Now, during the third Congress of Paul's detention, I am furious. Throughout Paul's detention, the Russian Government has repeatedly violated his rights, denied him proper medical care, and refused to provide any evidence to substantiate the charges against him. Paul was held in pretrial detention for over 18 months in the notorious Lefortovo Prison. Then his trial was held behind closed doors, and his defense was prohibited from calling witnesses--a sham trial. Paul now serves a 16-year sentence of hard labor in a prison camp where he has been since August of 2020, facing unbelievably harsh conditions, injury, and illness.…”