04/15/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/15/2021 08:16
Washington, DC - House Foreign Affairs Committee Lead Republican Michael McCaul has released the following statement in response to the Biden administration's new sanctions against Russia for the Putin regime's widespread SolarWinds cyber hack, attempts to influence U.S. elections and other malign activity.
'I appreciate the Biden Administration's actions today to punish dozens of Russian individuals and entities that enable the Putin regime's destabilizing behaviorand to enhance U.S. efforts with allies and partners to bolster our collective resilience to Russia's sophisticated cyber tools. However, the United States needs to send a strong, clear message that we will not continue to tolerate Russia's malign activities. And while these sanctions are a necessary step, I am concerned they will ultimately fail to establish a credible deterrent.
'If the Biden Administration is serious about imposing real costs on the Putin regime's efforts to undermine U.S. democratic institutions and weaken our allies and partners, then it must ensure the Russian malign influence Nord Stream 2 pipeline project is never completed. Therefore, I urge the Biden Administration to make additional sanctions designations today on the numerous entities widely known to be actively involved in the pipeline project as is required by congressionally-mandated sanctions.'
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