Wyden Statement on U.S. State Department Reportedly Revoking Andreii Telizhenko’s Visa

Senate Finance Committee Ranking Member Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today issued the following statement in reaction to news reports that controversial former Ukrainian Embassy employee Andreii Telizhenko’s visa was revoked by the U.S State Department in retaliation for his role in spreading Russian disinformation about the 2020 election.

“Andreii Telizhenko was a critical source for Republicans’ shameful political witch hunt against Vice President Biden. Now the Washington Post reports that Trump’s own State Department has barred Telizhenko from the country for his role in spreading misinformation about the 2020 election. The chairman of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee insists that his flawed report had nothing to do with Russian misinformation, and yet Telizhenko, who was cited 42 times in Republican letters as part of their investigation, and fellow Rudy Giuliani associate Andriy Derkach have both been linked to Russian propaganda efforts.

“Remember, after the chairmen of HSGAC and Finance committees requested transcripts of calls between Vice President Biden and Ukrainian official, Telizhenko and his allies leaked those precise conversations to foreign media. Republican senators’ willingness to launder and amplify Russian propaganda despite the obvious warning signs has never been more clear, or more appalling.”

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