Senators Call for Accountability on Russian Lawmakers’ Visit

Senators Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-Mississippi) have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to clarify the situation regarding sanctioned Russian lawmakers who visited the U.S. Capitol.

This visit was organized last month by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.), who led a delegation of Russian congressmen.

Wicker, who chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee and serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, expressed concern in a joint letter. He stated, “The delegation came to American soil for one purpose: to advance the Kremlin’s strategic objectives, including gathering additional useful intelligence. They did not come to engage in dialogue or pursue democratic objectives.”

Among those highlighted by the senators was Vyacheslav Nikonov, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Duma. They pointed out that in 2023, Nikonov referred to the U.S. and NATO as the “Fourth Reich” during a broadcast in Russia.

They also mentioned Boris Chernyshov, a deputy speaker of the Duma, who reportedly said that Russia’s retaliatory attacks were “an expression of our hatred” towards Ukraine. Other sanctioned lawmakers included Mikhail Gennadyevich Deryagin from the “Just Russia – For Truth” party and Vladimir Pavlovich Isakov from the Communist Party, both of whom have been sanctioned for actions deemed harmful to U.S. national security.

Wicker and Shaheen expressed alarm that U.S. government agencies granted access to these individuals. They requested an explanation for lifting sanctions on the visiting members of Congress, a comprehensive list of everyone who traveled from Russia, details of their meetings with Trump administration officials, and whether a counterintelligence assessment was carried out.

This inquiry follows similar demands from several House Democrats and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) directed at the same cabinet members.

During the visit, Rep. Luna aimed to present himself as a mediator seeking peace in Ukraine. He mentioned, “We want an end to the war in Ukraine. We want to ensure we have Congressional support in the peace negotiations and the president’s perspective on everything.”

Not all Republicans were on board with Luna’s efforts; some criticized the trip. Rep. Andy Barr (R-Ky.), a colleague on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, referred to Russia as an “adversary.” Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), a vocal supporter of Ukraine, went as far as comparing his discussion with the Russian lawmakers to “visiting the Third Reich.”