Klobuchar, Graham, Gillibrand, Van Hollen Urge the Administration Not to Return New York and Maryland Diplomatic Compounds in the U.S. to Russian Control

Press Release

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) have urged the Administration not to return two diplomatic compounds in the U.S. to Russian control. Intelligence reports indicate that the two compounds--one in New York and one in Maryland--were used by the Russian government for intelligence-related purposes. In response to Russia's unprecedented interference in the 2016 election and repeated harassment of U.S. diplomats in Moscow, the U.S. government enacted sanctions against Russia, revoked diplomatic credentials to 35 Russian officials, and seized the two Russian compounds.

"These properties were seized because 17 U.S. intelligence agencies confirmed that Russia used covert cyberattacks, espionage, and harmful propaganda to try and undermine our democracy, in addition to the fact that U.S. diplomats in Russia faced repeated harassment from Russian security services. We need to stand strong and stand united so that Russia and other nations know that this aggression will not go unchecked," the senators wrote. "Returning the compounds to Russian control is unjustifiable. It would both make it easier for the Kremlin to continue its intelligence operations in our own backyard and make it clear that they can avoid consequences for their actions. We strongly advise against it."

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