Lance Statement on Indictment of Russian Operatives

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) released the following statement after federal prosecutors from Robert Mueller’s Special Counsel’s Office and the Justice Department’s National Security Division indicted 12 Russian intelligence officers on charges related to interfering in the 2016 election:

“Vladimir Putin’s government and the GRU intelligence agency intolerably interfered in our honored democratic process.  The Russian government must continue to face the consequences and I am pleased the Department of Justice brought these charges.  There is no moral equivalency between the United States and Russian governments.  Vladimir Putin and his operatives have sought to sow discord throughout the world and the U.S. must stand in defense of global order.  Indicting these intelligence officers is another step in this ongoing investigation and should not be the last word in holding the Russian government accountable.”  

Lance actions holding Russia accountable:

• One of the first Republican lawmakers to call for Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself from the Russia investigation.
• Voted YES on all spending bills fully funding the Mueller investigation.
• One of the first Republican lawmakers to cosponsor The Russia Sanctions Review Act (H.R. 1059), which would codify sanctions imposed by the Obama Administration and restrict the President’s ability to waive or remove sanctions on Russia.
• One of eight Republican cosponsors of the Honest Ads Act(H.R. 4077), which makes online campaign ad disclosure more transparent in order to combat foreign disinformation during our elections.
• Voted YES on the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (H.R. 3364), which codifies sanctions on Russia and further sanctions Russia for election interference.
• Voted YES on the Cyber Diplomacy Act (H.R. 3776), whichrecognizes Russia’s effort to influence 2016 election and reestablishes the Department of State as the office responsible for combatting cyber-attacks by foreign governments.
• Cosponsor of the Fight Russian Corruption Act (H.R. 2820), which establishes an office in the Department of State dedicated to fighting illicit Russian activities aimed at eroding democratic governance
• Cosponsor of No Russian Diplomatic Access to Compounds Here in America Actor No Russian DACHA Act (H.R. 2798), which prevents the reopening of Russian facilities closed in response to election interference.