Russian government sanctions SC’s Mace, Rice, others in retaliation for US sanctions
The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday issued sanctions on 398 U.S. lawmakers — including six of South Carolina’s U.S. House members — in retaliation for sanctions issued by the United States over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions bar U.S. lawmakers from entering the country and freeze assets and were issued in retaliation to sanctions President Joe Biden’s administration imposed that barred Russian lawmakers from the United States.
The sanctions are the latest move in the conflict between Russian and Western nations over Russia’s was in Ukraine. The United States previously sanctioned Russia’s banks and oligarchs.
In a statement, Russia’s Foreign Ministry called the move “mirror sanctions” to what the Biden administration imposed on its lawmakers.
South Carolina Reps. Nancy Mace (R-Daniel Island), Tom Rice (R-Myrtle Beach), Jim Clyburn (D-Columbia), Jeff Duncan (R-Clinton), Ralph Norman (R-Rock Hill) and William Timmons (R-Greenville) were among the nearly 400 lawmakers sanctioned by Russia.
U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, a Republican and South Carolina’s seventh member of Congress, wasn’t included on the sanction list. In a statement, Wilson said that was because he was included on a previous sanctions list. He also noted he’s pushed legislation that supports Ukraine and punishes Russia.
“My record in support of democracy is clear. I have long been a critic of Putin and his oppressive regime, which is why I am already on a Russian sanctions list,” Wilson said. “I stand with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and the people of Ukraine.”
South Carolina’s other six representatives largely brushed off the news in responses throughout the day Thursday.
Rice, in a tweet Thursday evening, compared the sanctions to the blowback he’s received for voting to impeach former Presidenet Donald Trump in January 2021 for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. The South Carolina Republican Party censured Rice for his vote, and Trump has since called for his ouster, along with Mace.
Several Pee Dee and Horry County Republicans are running to primary Rice on June 14. Trump in February endorsed state Rep. Russell Fry (R-Surfside Beach) against Rice and held a rally in Florence in March.
Rice has said he voted to impeach Trump because he felt the former president violated the U.S. Constitution with his actions on Jan. 6.
“Censured by SCGOP, targeted by Trump, and sanctioned by Putin. And all for protecting freedom,” Rice tweeted about being sanctioned. “Interesting times. But heck, I’d rather have scruples than rubles!”
In a tweet early Thursday, Mace embraced the sanctions.
“I will continue to stand with Ukraine!” Mace tweeted about the sanctions, adding a Ukrainian flag and an American flag to her message.
Duncan tweeted Thursday that he was “honored” to be included on the sanctions list.
“Vladimir Putin sanctioned me for opposing Russia’s senseless brutality against Ukraine,” he wrote on Twitter. “I’m honored to be on the list considered enemies of Putin. I’ll continue to fight back against his aggression and promote domestic energy as a means to stop his energy-funded war machine.”
Norman, in a Facebook post, echoed that sentiment. He said he was “proud” to have been sanctioned and said he considered it a “badge of honor.”
“What Putin & his regime are doing is pure evil,” Norman wrote. “As long as I have a voice (and vote) in these matters, I will continue to oppose him and what he’s doing to the innocent people of Ukraine.
Austin Livingston, a spokesperson for Norman, noted that the sanction wouldn’t affect the lawmaker in any material way.
Timmons, too, sounded a bold tone in his statement. He said he would continue to support Ukraine and “(speak) the truth.”
“Innocent women and children are being killed by Russian soldiers in an effort to break the will of the Ukrainian people who are fighting to protect themselves and their sovereignty,” he said. “Sanction me all you want, Russia, but I will never stop calling out Vladimir Putin for what he truly is: a murderer and a thug.”
Clyburn, in a statement, also called the sanctions a “badge of honor.” Brandon Hernandez, a spokesperson for Clyburn noted the sanctions would have no material affect on the House Majority Whip because he has “no plan or desire to travel to Russia and has no assets in Russia.”
“I have been consistently strong in my condemnation of Vladimir Putin and his unjust war against the people of Ukraine,” Clyburn said in the statement. “I will continue to advocate and vote for the strongest measures to responsibly support the Ukrainian people and hold Vladimir Putin and his military accountable for the atrocities they have committed.”
Editor’s note: This story was updated with additional comment from Timmons, Clyburn, Wilson and Rice.
This story was originally published April 14, 2022 at 11:42 AM with the headline "Russian government sanctions SC’s Mace, Rice, others in retaliation for US sanctions."
