Wyden Statement on Treasury Department Sanction on Andrii Derkach

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today released the following statement in reaction to the Treasury Department’s actions to place sanctions on Andrii Derkach for efforts to interfere in the election. Treasury’s move comes a week after Wyden led a letter requesting Treasury take action to sanction Derkach and other individuals involved in election interference: 

“Andrii Derkach is now under U.S. sanctions for his efforts to influence the election through the spread of false and unsubstantiated narratives. Derkach has been central in advancing the Russian disinformation that underpins Senate Republicans’ effort to smear Vice President Biden.  

“For example, in April, the Republican chairmen of the Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs and Finance Committees requested information about purported calls between Vice President Biden and Ukrainian officials. Then in May edited excerpts of those same calls involving Biden were leaked by Derkach and Andrii Telizhenko, the Senate Republicans’ star witness. 

“While Democrats are pushing for more aggressive action against Russian assets interfering in our elections, Republicans are using their conspiracy theories to advance bogus investigations.

“Senate investigations should not parrot conspiracy theories pushed by Russian agents under U.S. sanctions, and Senate Republicans should immediately abandon this blatantly political effort.” 

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