COLUMBUS, Ind. — Russia has imposed sanctions on hundreds of members of Congress — including Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana, and other members of Indiana’s congressional delegation.
The Russian foreign ministry announced Wednesday what it described as “mirror sanctions” against 398 members of the U.S. House of Representatives in retaliation for similar measures taken by the U.S. Treasury last month against Russia’s lower level of parliament, known as the Russian State Duma, according to Russian state news agency Tass and several U.S. news outlets.
The announcement from the Russian government comes amid rounds of increased sanctions against Russia stemming from its invasion of Ukraine, which is now in its seventh week.
Pence has expressed opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Last month, Pence voted in favor of a bill that would suspend normal trade relations with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
The second-term congressman from Columbus also voted in favor of military aid for Ukraine, but voted against provisions of a spending bill that provided humanitarian aid for the Ukrainian people.
The sanctions list includes House members House members from both parties, including Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene, among others. The Russian government added that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California, had previously been blacklisted from entering Russia.
All nine House members representing Indiana also were included in the list, including Republicans James Baird, Larry Bucshon, Jim Banks, Jackie Walorski, Victoria Spartz and Trey Hollingsworth, as well as Democrats André Carson and Frank Mrvan.
For the complete story, see Saturday’s Republic.
