Month: April 2023

U.S. Ambassador to Russia Lynne Tracy made her first visit to Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who is being held at Moscow’s Lefortovo Prison.  Tracy’s visit comes over two weeks after Russia detained the journalist on espionage charges.  Tracy tweeted from the U.S. Embassy account: “I visited @WSJ’s Evan #Gershkovich today at Lefortovo Prison – the first time we’ve been permitted access to him since his wrongful detention more than two weeks ago. He is in good health and remains strong. We reiterate our call for his immediate release. #FreeEvan”  

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement, which was reported by Russian state media, that Gershkovich was detained on March 30 on suspicion of “espionage in the interests of the American government.” The Wall Street Journal and the Biden administration have repeatedly denied that Gershkovich was affiliated with the U.S. government.  Russian authorities have not provided evidence to support the charges, and they had denied the embassy’s requests for access to Gershkovich.

The Lefortovo Court in Moscow initially ordered Gershkovich to be detained until May 29. Gershkovich denied the charges against him, according to the TASS state news agency.  Reuters reported that on Tuesday, the court will hear a complaint Gershkovich filed against the decision to detain him ahead of a possible trial. If convicted, the journalist could face up to 20 years in prison.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, said Monday that while she was “absolutely delighted” that Tracy was allowed to see Gershkovich, “we still call for his unconditional release  He is being held unfairly and unjustly and the Russians need to allow him to return to his family. We protest Russian efforts to limit and intimidate the media. Free, independent and pluralistic media play an indispensable role in informing people around the world.”

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House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said that Republicans will move forward with a vote that would raise the debt ceiling, allowing the United States to avoid defaulting through 2024.  In a tweet, McCarthy said: “The House will vote on a bill to lift the debt ceiling into next year, save taxpayers trillions of dollars, make us less dependent on China, and curb high inflation—all without touching Social Security or Medicare.”

During a speech at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, McCarthy did not specify a particular bill or elaborate on when exactly the vote would happen, saying in his address:“Since the president continues to hide, House Republicans will take action. So here’s our plan: In the coming weeks the House will vote on a bill to lift the debt ceiling into the next year, save taxpayers trillions of dollars, make us less dependent upon China, curb our high inflation – all without touching Social Security and Medicare … Let me be clear. A no-strings-attached debt limit increase will not pass. It limits, it saves and it grows.”

McCarthy added: “Without exaggeration, American debt is a ticking time bomb that will detonate unless we take serious, responsible action. Yet how has President Biden reacted to this issue? He has done nothing … Debt limit negotiations are an opportunity to examine our nation’s finances.”

Any bill relating to the debt ceiling passed by the Republican-led House would need to get through the Democrat-led Senate before making its way to President Biden’s desk.

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