Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Costa Says It's a Badge of Honor To Be Sanctioned by Russia
bill-new-mug-002
By Bill McEwen, News Director
Published 2 years ago on
April 18, 2022

Share

 

Like other House members sanctioned by Russia, Rep. Jim Costa considers it “a badge of honor.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry said last week it had imposed “mirror” sanctions on 398 U.S. members of Congress in response to similar sanctions levied against more than 300 Russian lawmakers in connection to Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Pelosi, McCarthy Not Sanctioned

Not every lawmaker was sanctioned and the rationale used by the Russians wasn’t made clear. Neither Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi nor Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy were listed. The Russians previously banned Pelosi from entering the country.

However, with the exception of Bakersfield’s McCarthy, all of the Valley’s other federal lawmakers made the sanctioned list.

“Putin and his pariah regime sanctioning myself and my colleagues only further isolates the Russian government,” said Costa (D-Fresno) in a statement. “The U.S. will continue its efforts in standing with Ukraine by providing military and humanitarian aid in response to Russia’s aggression.”

Speaking to GV Wire, Costa said that the Russian invasion is “a seminal moment” and the United States and its NATO allies must succeed in helping Ukraine turn back Putin.

Republicans, Democrats React

Utah Republican Rep. John Curtis said it was an “honor to be included” on the list, as did Michigan Democrat Debbie Dingell. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) used the sanctions as an opportunity to tell the story of his ancestors. He explained on Twitter that his family escaped “the Russian pogroms” of the late 19th century and were granted refuge in the U.S.

“Today, 120 years later, I was sanctioned by Russia for opposing the very genocide, authoritarianism, and tyranny I promised my great-grandparents I would fight,” he said.

Costa recently led a moment of silence on the House floor honoring the hundreds of civilians killed by Russian forces in Bucha, a suburb of the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.

Watch: Costa Leads Moment of Silence for Ukrainian War Dead

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

Hamas Official: We’ll Put Down Arms if an Independent Palestine Is Created

DON'T MISS

Tennessee Legislators Join Movement Permitting Teachers to Carry Guns in Schools

DON'T MISS

Strict New EPA Rules Would Force Coal-Fired Power Plants to Capture Emissions or Shut Down

DON'T MISS

Jayden Daniels Downplays Issues With Commanders, Says He’d Be ‘Blessed’ to Go No. 2 Overall

DON'T MISS

Ex-State Department Official: Israeli Military Gets Preferential Treatment on Abuses

DON'T MISS

Down 2-0, the 76ers, Magic & Lakers Hope for Homecourt Lift

DON'T MISS

Dozens Arrested at USC After Students in Texas Detained as Gaza War Protests Persist

DON'T MISS

Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 Rape Conviction Overturned by NY Appeals Court

DON'T MISS

New California Rule Aims to Limit Health Care Cost Increases to 3% Annually

DON'T MISS

Shohei Ohtani Has 3 Doubles, Landon Knack Gets 1st Win as Dodgers Rout Nats

UP NEXT

Tennessee Legislators Join Movement Permitting Teachers to Carry Guns in Schools

UP NEXT

Strict New EPA Rules Would Force Coal-Fired Power Plants to Capture Emissions or Shut Down

UP NEXT

Jayden Daniels Downplays Issues With Commanders, Says He’d Be ‘Blessed’ to Go No. 2 Overall

UP NEXT

Ex-State Department Official: Israeli Military Gets Preferential Treatment on Abuses

UP NEXT

Down 2-0, the 76ers, Magic & Lakers Hope for Homecourt Lift

UP NEXT

Dozens Arrested at USC After Students in Texas Detained as Gaza War Protests Persist

UP NEXT

Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 Rape Conviction Overturned by NY Appeals Court

UP NEXT

New California Rule Aims to Limit Health Care Cost Increases to 3% Annually

UP NEXT

Judge Keeps Reedley Biolab Suspect in Jail. Was Operation Just a Warehouse?

UP NEXT

Cruisin’ Through Kingsburg’s 29th Annual Car Show

Bill McEwen,
News Director
Bill McEwen is news director and columnist for GV Wire. He joined GV Wire in August 2017 after 37 years at The Fresno Bee. With The Bee, he served as Opinion Editor, City Hall reporter, Metro columnist, sports columnist and sports editor through the years. His work has been frequently honored by the California Newspapers Publishers Association, including authoring first-place editorials in 2015 and 2016. Bill and his wife, Karen, are proud parents of two adult sons, and they have two grandsons. You can contact Bill at 559-492-4031 or at Send an Email

Jayden Daniels Downplays Issues With Commanders, Says He’d Be ‘Blessed’ to Go No. 2 Overall

44 mins ago

Ex-State Department Official: Israeli Military Gets Preferential Treatment on Abuses

48 mins ago

Down 2-0, the 76ers, Magic & Lakers Hope for Homecourt Lift

49 mins ago

Dozens Arrested at USC After Students in Texas Detained as Gaza War Protests Persist

50 mins ago

Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 Rape Conviction Overturned by NY Appeals Court

56 mins ago

New California Rule Aims to Limit Health Care Cost Increases to 3% Annually

1 hour ago

Shohei Ohtani Has 3 Doubles, Landon Knack Gets 1st Win as Dodgers Rout Nats

2 hours ago

Lindor Slugs a Pair of 2-Run Homers to Lead Mets Over Giants

2 hours ago

Judge Keeps Reedley Biolab Suspect in Jail. Was Operation Just a Warehouse?

2 hours ago

Cruisin’ Through Kingsburg’s 29th Annual Car Show

5 hours ago

Hamas Official: We’ll Put Down Arms if an Independent Palestine Is Created

ISTANBUL — A top Hamas political official told The Associated Press the Islamic militant group is willing to agree to a truce of five years ...

35 mins ago

Photo of Israeli soldiers working on their tanks
35 mins ago

Hamas Official: We’ll Put Down Arms if an Independent Palestine Is Created

35 mins ago

Tennessee Legislators Join Movement Permitting Teachers to Carry Guns in Schools

37 mins ago

Strict New EPA Rules Would Force Coal-Fired Power Plants to Capture Emissions or Shut Down

44 mins ago

Jayden Daniels Downplays Issues With Commanders, Says He’d Be ‘Blessed’ to Go No. 2 Overall

48 mins ago

Ex-State Department Official: Israeli Military Gets Preferential Treatment on Abuses

49 mins ago

Down 2-0, the 76ers, Magic & Lakers Hope for Homecourt Lift

50 mins ago

Dozens Arrested at USC After Students in Texas Detained as Gaza War Protests Persist

56 mins ago

Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 Rape Conviction Overturned by NY Appeals Court

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend