Stevens Statement on Foreign Affairs Committee Markup of H.Res. 552
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Rep Haley Stevens (MI-11) released the following statement after the House Committee on Foreign Affairs voted to advance H.Res. 552, Rep. Stevens’ resolution calling on the Russian Federation to provide evidence of wrongdoing or else release United States citizen and resident of Michigan’s 11th District Paul Whelan.
“The Foreign Affairs Committee moved quickly and unanimously to advance this important resolution and this is a good thing,” said Congresswoman Stevens. “For months, we have asked for the Russian government to give Paul Whelan a fair and transparent judicial process to no avail. It is unacceptable that Paul has been held for so long without full consular access and without being able to speak to his family, all while his health continues to deteriorate. If Russia cannot produce any evidence after keeping an American citizen detained for nine months, they should release him immediately and let him come home and get the medical care he needs.”
“H.Res 552 calls on the Russian government to provide evidence or release Mr. Whelan so he can come home to the United States and receive the proper medical treatment he so urgently needs,” said Rep. Eliot Engel, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, during his opening statement at today’s markup. “Every day he spends in that Russian prison is yet another day spent suffering. This is yet another reminder of the kind of leader Putin is—and something we should all keep in mind. I strongly support this measure and I want to thank Representative Stevens for her hard work to seek justice for Paul Whelan and his family.”
Paul Whelan has been detained since December in Russia while visiting the country for a friend’s wedding. In addition to calling for his release, H.R. 552 also calls for due process and unrestricted access to consular service for Paul Whelan. This effort comes amid reports about Paul Whalen’s declining health and poor treatment while imprisoned.
Earlier this year, a bipartisan group of Michigan Congressional delegation members wrote to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to press for a fair and transparent judicial process for Paul. The State Department has been working diligently to monitor Paul’s case and demand his release.
###