[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 27, 2022)]
[House]
[Pages H4523-H4525]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CALLING ON THE GOVERNMENT OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION TO PROVIDE EVIDENCE 
            OR TO RELEASE UNITED STATES CITIZEN PAUL WHELAN

  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 336) calling on the Government of the Russian 
Federation to provide evidence or to release United States citizen Paul 
Whelan, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 336

       Whereas United States citizen Paul Whelan is a resident of 
     Novi, Michigan, and a United States Marine Corps veteran;
       Whereas Paul Whelan traveled to Moscow for the wedding of a 
     personal friend on December 22, 2018;
       Whereas Russia's Federal Security Service arrested Paul 
     Whelan at the Metropol Hotel in Moscow on December 28, 2018, 
     and charged him with espionage;
       Whereas the Federal Security Service has never provided any 
     evidence of supposed wrongdoing;
       Whereas Paul Whelan was imprisoned in Lefortovo Prison and 
     was held there for more than 19 months after his arrest in 
     pretrial detention;
       Whereas a Moscow court extended Paul Whelan's pretrial 
     detention multiple times without publicly presenting 
     justification or evidence of wrongdoing;
       Whereas even Paul Whelan's Federal Security Service-
     appointed lawyer, Vladimir Zherebenkov, said on May 24, 2019, 
     ``[The Federal Security Service] always roll[s] out what they 
     have, but in this case, we've seen nothing concrete against 
     Whelan in five months. That means there is nothing.'';
       Whereas the then United States Ambassador to the Russian 
     Federation, Jon Huntsman, responded on April 12, 2019, to a 
     question about the detention of Paul Whelan, ``If the 
     Russians have evidence, they should bring it forward. We have 
     seen nothing. If there was a case, I think the evidence would 
     have been brought forward by now.'';
       Whereas then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with 
     Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on May 14, 2019, and 
     urged him to ensure United States citizens are not unjustly 
     held abroad;
       Whereas the Kremlin has refused Paul Whelan full access to 
     his lawyer and the so-called evidence against him;
       Whereas any evidence he has seen is in Russian, a language 
     Paul does not read or speak;
       Whereas Lefortovo pretrial detention facility and the 
     Ministry of Foreign Affairs refused to provide medical 
     treatment for Paul Whelan's medical condition, despite being 
     aware of its worsening state, resulting in emergency surgery 
     on May 29, 2020;
       Whereas Paul Whelan was wrongfully convicted on June 15, 
     2020, and sentenced to 16 years in a Russian labor camp by a 
     3-judge panel, in a trial witnessed by then United States 
     Ambassador John Sullivan, who referred to it as ``a mockery 
     of justice'' due to the denial of a fair trial and the 
     exclusion of defense witnesses;
       Whereas in August 2020, on an unknown day because he was 
     moved secretly, Paul Whelan was transferred to camp IK-17, a 
     penal labor camp in Mordovia, where he is forced to work 6 
     days a week in a garment factory;
       Whereas Ambassador John Sullivan, while visiting Paul 
     Whelan at the labor camp in Mordovia, stated that ``Russian 
     authorities . . . have never shown the world evidence of his 
     guilt,'' and reiterated his call that the Russian authorities 
     correct this injustice and release Mr. Whelan; and
       Whereas Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with 
     Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on February 4, 2021, 
     and urged him to release Americans detained in Russia, 
     including Paul Whelan and Trevor Reed, so that they are able 
     to return home to their families in the United States: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) demands the Government of the Russian Federation 
     present credible evidence on the allegations against Paul 
     Whelan or immediately release him from imprisonment;
       (2) demands the Government of the Russian Federation comply 
     with its international treaty obligations and provide 
     unrestricted consular access to Paul Whelan while he remains 
     imprisoned in Russia;
       (3) calls on the Government of the Russian Federation to 
     provide Paul Whelan, Trevor Reed, and all others imprisoned 
     for political motivations or otherwise unjustly imprisoned 
     their constitutionally afforded due process rights and 
     universally recognized human rights; and
       (4) expresses sympathy to the family of Paul Whelan for 
     this travesty to justice and personal hardship, and expresses 
     hope that their ordeal can soon be brought to a just end.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Minnesota (Mr. Phillips) and the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Wilson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H. Res. 336, as amended.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Minnesota?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 336, calling 
on the Government of the Russian Federation to provide evidence or to 
release United States citizen Paul Whelan.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank Representative Stevens for her tireless work on 
behalf of her constituent, Paul Whelan, whom Russia has held hostage as 
a political prisoner for over 3 years.
  For more than 1,300 days the Russian Government has put Paul and his 
family through unimaginable torment: taking away Paul's freedom, 
threatening his health, and denying him his most basic human rights--
all for the purpose of using an American citizen--a human being--as a 
political bargaining chip.
  Paul's treatment at the hands of the Russian Government and its so-
called justice system is shocking, but unfortunately, hardly 
surprising.
  As we witness the horrors committed by Putin, his enablers, and 
Russian forces in Ukraine, we are reminded of the lengths that the 
authoritarian regime in the Kremlin will go to achieve its nefarious 
objectives. But neither Paul nor any political prisoner is a tool to be 
used for an end. They are human beings with families who just want to 
see justice served and see their loved ones home safe and sound.

[[Page H4524]]

  In light of the horrific treatment Paul has endured, I thank our 
wonderful diplomats in Russia, particularly Ambassador John Sullivan, 
as well as Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, Roger Carstens, working 
under tremendous pressure from the Russian Government to see that Paul 
Whelan, Brittney Griner, and other Americans detained in Russia are 
treated with dignity and that their human rights are respected.
  Good news today, we are thrilled that in large part due to their 
work, Trevor Reed is now on his way home. We cannot stop until Paul's 
family and other families with Americans detained overseas are given 
that same relief. These families work tirelessly to remind us that we 
cannot stop pushing--they deserve that same level of dedication from 
all of us.
  H. Res. 336, calling on the Government of the Russian Federation to 
provide evidence or to release United States citizen Paul Whelan, takes 
another step toward securing that safe and swift release of American 
citizens from unjust detention abroad.
  Mr. Speaker, I support this important resolution and thank the 
gentlewoman from Michigan for introducing it. I urge all Members to 
vote in support, and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I am grateful to be here with Congressman Dean Phillips 
as we work together, unintentionally united by war criminal Putin, as 
Democrats and Republicans are united for freedom.
  Mr. Speaker, on December 28, 2018, U.S. citizen Paul Whelan was 
arrested in Moscow. On June 15, 2020, he was sentenced to 16 years in a 
Putin labor camp. He remains behind bars to this day for a crime he did 
not commit. No real evidence of Paul's guilt was ever provided, defense 
witnesses were excluded, and he was denied a fair trial.
  U.S. Ambassador John Sullivan described Paul's wrongful conviction 
exactly right--a mockery of justice. Paul is an American and a U.S. 
Marine Corps veteran. The U.S. Congress cannot remain silent as Paul 
remains unjustly held by the thug in the Kremlin.
  The resolution we are considering today shows we have not forgotten--
and will never forget--Paul or any other American wrongfully detained 
in Russia.
  I was thrilled and relieved today to learn that Trevor Reed has been 
released from his unjust detention in Russia. Trevor, another former 
U.S. Marine, had spent years behind bars on completely fabricated 
charges.
  However, we cannot rest until Paul and every single wrongfully 
detained American is home safely with their families as well.
  As it launched its full-scale murderous invasion of Ukraine, the 
Putin regime has stepped up its reprehensible practice of targeting 
Americans for unfounded detentions. In February, Brittney Griner, a 
WNBA--that is the Women's National Basketball Association--player was 
arrested for allegedly bringing drugs into Russia. She faces up to 10 
years in prison, if convicted. I fear she too will be held hostage by 
the Russian dictator. I appreciate her Member of Congress, Sheila 
Jackson Lee of Houston, for being such an outspoken proponent for her 
release.
  I would be remiss not to mention Vladimir Kara-Murza too. He is one 
of the fiercest advocates of a democratic Russia, who has been poisoned 
twice by the Putin regime, and who faces up to 15 years in prison for 
speaking the truth about Putin's unprovoked war of aggression and 
murder in Ukraine. He is a brave freedom fighter who does not deserve 
to be locked up for shining a light on Putin's brutality and 
corruption.
  Putin must stop using innocent Americans as diplomatic pawns and 
release them immediately.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution so Paul 
and his family know that the U.S. Congress stands with them, Democrats 
and Republicans, and will do everything in our power to make sure Paul 
can join Trevor in coming back home.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1245

  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Michigan (Ms. Stevens).
  Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today--as I have every day I have 
served in this very Chamber--on behalf of my constituent, Paul Whelan, 
who has been wrongfully detained in Russia since the end of December, 
2018.
  Throughout Mr. Whelan'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. He was held in pretrial detention for over 18 months in the 
notorious Lefortovo Prison. Then Mr. Whelan's trial was held behind 
closed doors, and his defense was prohibited from calling witnesses. 
Mr. Whelan now serves a 16-year sentence of hard labor, and he is in 
his fifties. He is currently being held in a prison camp where he has 
been since August 2020, facing unbelievably harsh conditions, injury, 
and illness.
  Early this morning the news broke that fellow American, Trevor Reed, 
a marine and Texan who had also been wrongfully imprisoned in Russia, 
was freed through a prisoner swap orchestrated by President Biden. This 
is incredible news.
  While this is incredible news for Mr. Reed and his family, let us say 
in this Chamber that Paul and his family deserve to experience the same 
joy and relief. Paul has been imprisoned longer than any other detained 
American in Russia. He has had years stolen from him, including 
precious time with his aging parents and siblings. One by one, he has 
lost his home in Novi, his job, his ability to communicate with 
friends, his beloved dog, Flora, and so much more. I want to see my 
constituent of Novi, Michigan, back home.
  This innocent man has had his life and his livelihood stolen from him 
by Vladimir Putin. Today, we have the opportunity as a Congress to 
denounce Paul's wrongful imprisonment and stand up to the lawlessness 
of the Putin regime. In the years since Paul's detention, we have seen 
Mr. Putin further isolate himself on the world stage as his government 
has dissolved into one of true lawlessness leading to threats and 
violence. We have all borne witness to the tragic loss of life of 
thousands of innocent Ukrainians and watched while a democratic nation 
is being destroyed at the directive of this dangerous war criminal. We 
must stand up from this Chamber.
  I thank my colleagues who have joined us. I thank Mr. Keating, and I 
certainly recognize the chairman, Mr. Meeks, and the ranking member, 
Mr. McCaul, for their attention to this matter.
  If Paul is watching this, he will know that I am praying for him, I 
am rooting for him, and I will never stop fighting for him. Let's pass 
H. Res. 336 immediately.
  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill).
  Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend from South Carolina for the 
time, and, of course, I thank my friend, Mr. Phillips, for leading the 
debate on this important issue.
  Once again, we gather on the House floor in unity--Republicans and 
Democrats--to counter Putin's behavior.
  Last year, I cofounded the first Congressional Task Force for 
American Hostages and Americans Wrongfully Detained Abroad with my 
friend, Ted Deutch, from Florida.
  I thank Representative Stevens for being one of the first members of 
that task force, and that is why I rise in strong support of my friend 
Haley Stevens' resolution which calls for the release of Paul Whelan 
who is, in fact, unjustly imprisoned in Russia.
  We have heard today in the debates some of the details of Paul's 
arrest and nearly 2 years in pretrial detention with no evidence 
publicly presented justifying wrongdoing.
  All parts of our government, especially Members of Congress, who 
directly represent the families of those held hostage or wrongfully 
detained, must engage with friends and enemies alike, to ensure that 
Americans in situations like Paul Whelan's are expeditiously brought 
home. Further, Congress must continue to engage with the administration 
in situations like these to disincentivize the wrongful detention or 
hostage taking of Americans.

[[Page H4525]]

  Last year, we passed a similar resolution on this floor in support of 
Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan. It was, in fact, rewarding this morning to 
hear that Trevor was released; but, he should have never been held, and 
the exchange of prisoners should have never been necessary.
  But today, Mr. Speaker, on a combined basis, Republicans and 
Democrats, let us issue a message to Paul Whelan: We have not forgotten 
you.
  And let this message be clear that countries that engage in political 
hostage taking must stop the disgraceful practice and be held 
accountable.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support Representative 
Stevens' resolution.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Walberg).
  Mr. WALBERG. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend for yielding.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 336 and, once again, 
call on the Russian Government to release American citizen, Paul 
Whelan. I thank my colleague, Congresswoman Haley Stevens, for her 
undying leadership in fighting this travesty--and it is a travesty.
  It has now been over 3 years since Paul Whelan--a marine veteran, a 
Michigan resident, and, most importantly, an American citizen--was 
imprisoned in Russia without proper evidence or a fair trial. It was a 
sham trial; that is the messaging Paul wanted to convey to the world as 
an unjust Russian judicial system handed out a ridiculous sentence. 
Throughout his detainment, he has also been denied access to proper 
medical treatment, despite a sharp decline in his health.
  Just this week, I returned from Ukraine where Russian atrocities have 
been on display to the entire world. Make no mistake about that. We saw 
heartbreaking devastation that has impacted so many lives. But 
tragically, Vladimir Putin's barbaric behavior is not new. He has no 
concern for even the most basic of human rights.

  Today, the House must send an unequivocal message to the Kremlin: It 
is time to end the maltreatment of Paul Whelan.
  We just learned the good news that Trevor Reed, another American 
detained in Russia, was released from prison. We are calling for Paul 
to be next.
  I want to close with a message to Paul's dear parents, Rosemary and 
Ed, who live in my district in Manchester, Michigan; and to Paul's 
siblings, Elizabeth, David, and Andrew. I know this has been an 
incredibly trying time for your family. I admire your resolve in the 
face of adversity. I grieve with you. I pray for you. And I continue to 
stand with you.
  Mr. Speaker, it is time for Paul Whelan to come home to Michigan.
  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time 
as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, in closing, I thank Representative Haley Stevens for her 
work on this resolution. You can tell it is from the heart, and we are 
working together, again, Republicans and Democrats.
  How fortunate we are, with the leadership of Congressman Tim Walberg, 
to have spent the Orthodox Christian Easter weekend in Ukraine to visit 
with Lviv, to be in Kiev, to be in the Bucha region where the 
atrocities were so horrific, and to be on a delegation with 
Congresswoman Victoria Spartz, who was actually born in Soviet Ukraine, 
and now she has seen it become a free Ukraine. Our country is so 
blessed by the number of Ukrainians who have come to live in our 
country and then support their maintenance, victory, and winning for 
freedom in Ukraine.
  As the world watches in horror at the war crimes and atrocities that 
the war criminal Putin is committing in Ukraine, we must also condemn 
the Russian dictator's practice of exploiting innocent Americans as 
political pawns.
  I urge my colleagues to join in supporting this resolution. This will 
send a strong message to Paul and the other wrongfully detained 
Americans in Russia that Congress will not rest until they are returned 
home to their families.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PHILLIPS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time for 
the purpose of closing.
  I also thank my dear friend and colleague from South Carolina for 
delivering to me a Ukraine-United States solidarity pin that I now wear 
proudly on my lapel.
  Freedom is at the core of our American values. It is the backbone of 
democracy. We have Americans stuck in Russia and around the world being 
held against their will and without explanation to be used as political 
bargaining chips.
  During this time of horrific atrocities, their safe and secure 
release is all the more imperative. H. Res. 336 takes action to secure 
the safety of our fellow Americans, including Brittany Griner and Paul 
Whelan, who are at the mercy of Vladimir Putin, an evil dictator who 
has no regard for human life.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting this 
bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Phillips) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 336, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________