Letter to President Donald Trump - In Wake of Putin's Vow to "Never" Extradite the 13 Russian Nationals Indicted by Special Counsel Mueller for Election Tampering, Top Democrats Urge President Trump to Use All Possible Resources to Ensure These Russian Fugitives Stand Trial in U.S.

Letter

Dear Mr. President,

We write to urge your administration to devote all resources available to ensure that the Russian nationals indicted for allegedly interfering with the 2016 elections are brought to justice and stand trial in the United States.

In February, a grand jury sitting in the District of Columbia issued an indictment charging 13 Russian nationals with crimes related to efforts to interfere with our elections and political processes. These individuals are alleged to have engaged in conspiracy to defraud the U.S., wire and bank fraud, and identity theft while employed by the Internet Research Agency, a St. Petersburg-based organization which carried out operations targeting the United States.

Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin asserted in an interview that Russia will "never" extradite any of the Russians indicted for election-meddling. While Putin's stance is not surprising, it is also simply unacceptable.

The Russian government's efforts to interfere with American democracy have not abated since the 2016 election and likely have intensified. It is extraordinary and confounding how little your administration is doing to counter Putin's campaign to undermine our grand democracy, including the refusal to implement sanctions that passed Congress nearly unanimously.

Even without an extradition treaty the U.S. government has a number of tools at its disposal through the Departments of Justice and State to ensure these Russian nationals are brought to justice. The Department of Justice can obtain an Interpol Red Notice, which acts like an international arrest warrant, which can severely restrict a fugitive's ability to live and travel overseas. The Department of State and your White House can also use its leverage through diplomatic channels, including by raising the issue directly with President Putin, to ensure Russia and other nations cooperate with a request for extradition.

It is of the utmost importance that these agencies have the resources to work to secure these fugitives and are allowed to conduct their efforts to bring them to justice free from any political interference. Ensuring these Russian national stand trial in the United States is imperative for deterring Russia from future attacks on our democracy and would be a signal to those who seek to meddle with our election that such actions are not without consequences.

Sincerely,