United States Representative Val Demings praised President Joe Biden’s Russian sanctions after the invasion of Ukraine, but she is also urging personal sanctions against Vladimir Putin. Following the President’s announcement, Rep. Demings said “the only thing a bully understands is strength,” as she signaled strong support while calling for more action against Russia.
Rep. Demings wants to target Putin’s finances directly, and is calling on America to “implement staggering personal sanctions against his own assets.”
“A career in law enforcement taught me that the only thing a bully understands is strength and today the United States demonstrated our unity and our resolve,” said Rep. Demings. “The Ukrainian people are suffering at the hands of a violent unhinged dictator, and my prayers are with them. But prayers are not enough. In addition to our efforts to support the Ukrainian people with arms and humanitarian assistance, I strongly support today’s announced sanctions regime against Russia.”
The Orlando Representative is currently seeking the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in Florida to challenge Republican Senator Marco Rubio. Rubio has been very vocal on the Russian invasion of Ukraine and previously introduced legislation to bolster support for Ukraine. Sen. Rubio has said the Ukraine crisis “will have an impact on Americans.” He also said Putin is not “thinking or worrying about Joe Biden,” in a direct hit to the Democratic administration’s response. Rep. Demings thinks the actions taken so far will cause a “powerful blow against Russia,” but does agree more should be done.
“The sanctions against the Russian banks, oligarchs, and high-tech industry announced today are a powerful blow against Russia, effectively gutting their financial sector and cutting them off from massive sectors of the global economy,” Rep. Demings added. “We are sending an unmistakable message: if you throw the world into conflict, you no longer have the privilege of engaging with the world as a legitimate business partner. We should also utilize the information we gained from the passage of my legislation to investigate Putin’s finances, and implement staggering personal sanctions against his own assets.”
Rep. Demings also made news and sent a message to Russian oligarchs in South Florida.
“Finally, Russian oligarchs have made regions of South Florida into their personal playground,” she said. “Their travel rights should be rescinded and their businesses blacklisted. Any foreign national using our state to launder illegal money should have their mansions seized, their yachts drydocked, and their luxury cars impounded. I call on our allies in Europe, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean to do the same: any yacht in your ports or apartment in your cities belonging to a sanctioned individual should be immediately seized by law enforcement.”
“The United States is the greatest nation of Earth and there is no challenge that we cannot face when we do it together,” Rep. Demings concluded. “This warmonger and his enablers must, and will, pay the price for their crimes.”
Rep. Demings has led efforts in Congress to target Putin including passing the Vladimir Putin Transparency Act in the U.S. House. This legislation directs the U.S. intelligence community to report to Congress regarding the financial assets and hidden networks used by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Rep. Demings also previously introduced the bipartisan ‘Defend Against Russian Disinformation Act,’ which helps target the oligarchs who support Putin. She also took on Russia with the bipartisan ‘Defend Against Russian Disinformation Act,’ designed to strengthen America’s response to Russian interference in our elections.
