[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.
____________________