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CALLING FOR THE IMMEDIATE RELEASE OF TREVOR REED
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution (H. Res. 186) calling for the immediate release of Trevor Reed, a United States citizen who was unjustly found guilty and sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 186
Whereas United States citizen Trevor Reed is a resident of Granbury, Texas, and a United States Marine Corps veteran;
Whereas Trevor Reed traveled to Moscow to visit his girlfriend in May 2019;
Whereas Moscow's Police Service detained Trevor Reed in August 2019;
Whereas Trevor Reed was accused of grabbing the arm of the police officer driving the vehicle and elbowing another officer while en route to the police station, causing the vehicle to swerve and therefore endangering the lives of the police officers;
Whereas the United States Embassy in Moscow has filed numerous diplomatic notes with the Russian Foreign Ministry regarding Trevor Reed being denied consular access, communications, medical treatment, family visitations, and other violations of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations;
Whereas Trevor Reed was not given food or water until approximately 72 hours after his initial arrest;
Whereas Trevor Reed was not given a medical evaluation of his injuries until 10 days following his arrest;
Whereas Trevor Reed's defense team presented video evidence to the courts that disproves the police officers' statements of supposed endangerment and wrongdoing;
Whereas Trevor Reed's defense team was denied access to additional video evidence from inside the police vehicle and police station that had the potential to prove his innocence, the requests for all video recordings are documented, and the existence of the other videos was confirmed by police officials and investigators;
Whereas the police officers claimed emotional and physical damages, but did not sustain any visible injury, or claim any time missed from work, and the law considers the police officers victims;
Whereas the Constitutional Supreme Court of the Russian Federation and the Second Court of Cassation of General Jurisdiction concurred that Russian procedural law was violated in the way that Trevor Reed's bail was revoked;
Whereas the United States Embassy in Moscow has filed complaints with the Russian Foreign Ministry regarding denial of communications with Trevor Reed;
Whereas during the trial, the defense counsel presented 59 minutes of traffic camera video from four traffic cameras, and senior Russian Government officials analyzed the video recordings and confirmed that the videos showed the police car--
(1) did not change direction or leave its lane;
(2) did not swerve; and
(3) did not stop or slow down;
Whereas witnesses following directly behind the police car in a private vehicle never witnessed any dangerous movement of the police car;
Whereas the two police officers changed their testimonies in writing, in their interviews, and at least three times during defense questioning, with final answers to the judge being ``I don't remember.'', causing court attendees and the judge to laugh;
Whereas the Investigative Bureau and Golovinsky District Court Judge Arnout denied Trevor Reed's requests to investigate how his injuries occurred;
Whereas, on July 30, 2020, Golovinsky District Court Judge Arnout read a verdict that dismissed all defense evidence, witnesses, and government experts and only considered pieces of the police officers' statements;
Whereas the judge sentenced Trevor Reed to 9 years in prison camp and was ordered to pay 100,000 rubles to each police officer for moral and physical injuries;
Whereas Trevor Reed had already been detained in Russia for one year at the time of the judge's verdict;
Whereas a Consul representing the United States Embassy in Moscow attended all of Trevor Reed's trial hearings;
Whereas the United States Ambassador to Russia, John Sullivan, upon Trevor's sentencing, stated that the prosecution's case and the evidence presented against Mr. Reed were ``so preposterous that they provoked laughter in the courtroom'', the conviction and sentence were
``ridiculous'', and ``justice was not even considered'';
Whereas, upon appeal to the Moscow City Court, the Golovinsky District Court failed to provide Trevor Reed with translated copies of the court's decision and trial transcripts per law; and
Whereas the appeal court returned the case to the Golovinsky District Court to review omissions and incorrect statements in the trial transcripts, and the official court audio recordings were reviewed by the defense and the corrections were certified by a third-party notarization firm, with the result being Judge Arnout refusing to include any corrections to the corrupted transcripts: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) calls on the Government of the Russian Federation to immediately release Trevor Reed and all other prisoners arrested for political motivations;
(2) condemns the practice of politically motivated imprisonment in the Russian Federation, which violates the commitments of the Russian Federation to international obligations with respect to human rights and the rule of law;
(3) urges the United States Government, in all its interactions with the Government of the Russian Federation, to raise the case of Trevor Reed and to press for his release;
(4) expresses support for Trevor Reed, Paul Whelan, and all prisoners unjustly imprisoned in the Russian Federation;
(5) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to provide unrestricted consular access to Trevor Reed while he remains in detention;
(6) until Trevor Reed's release, calls on the Government of the Russian Federation--
(A) to provide Trevor Reed any necessary medical treatment and personal protective equipment;
(B) to notify the United States Ambassador to Russia of any medical problems or complaints that arise during his detention; and
(C) to provide the United States Embassy in Moscow with full access to all of Trevor Reed's medical records;
(7) urges the Government of the Russian Federation to respect Trevor Reed's universally recognized human rights; and
(8) expresses support to the family of Trevor Reed and commitment to bringing Trevor Reed home.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Pfluger) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 186.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H. Res. 186, introduced by Mr. Pfluger of Texas, calling for the release of Trevor Reed.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan measure that we have now, regrettably, had to move through the committee and the House for two Congresses.
This is a good resolution that calls for the release of Trevor Reed and condemns the deplorable treatment inflicted upon him throughout his ordeal.
It is shameful that the Kremlin continues to make a mockery of the principles of an independent judiciary, the rule of law, and due process, holding innocent American hostages for nefarious political purposes. Not even the judge on Trevor Reed's case could keep a straight face when presented with the absurd case that the Russian prosecutors brought to the table, yet the courts sentenced him to 9 years in prison anyway.
On top of the unimaginable suffering Trevor has already endured as a result of his terrible conditions and refusal of the Russian authorities to attend to his medical needs, Mr. Reed has been now diagnosed with COVID-19.
Other Americans are also suffering these same injustices inflicted by the Russian Government.
Paul Whelan, first arrested on baseless charges in December 2018, remains unjustly imprisoned and is serving a 16-year sentence.
The imprisonment of American citizens in Russia for political purposes, likely in an attempt to force the United States to release convicted Russian criminals and Putin cronies in the United States, is a despicable practice and an affront to human rights and the rule of law everywhere.
Mr. Speaker, I am grateful that President Biden, in his meeting with Vladimir Putin in Geneva, specifically demanded the release of Trevor Reed and Paul Whelan; and I am pleased that we, in Congress, are continuing to do the same with the consideration of this resolution.
The Kremlin must release Trevor Reed, Paul Whelan, and all others wrongfully detained in Russia so that they may finally return to their families. This is an important bill resolution. I support it, and I urge my colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, and I thank the chairman.
Mr. Speaker, 682 days ago, my constituent, Trevor Reed of Granbury, Texas, was thrown into jail by the Russian Government for a crime he did not commit before being convicted in Russian kangaroo court. He is an Eagle Scout, a U.S. marine, and, more importantly, a beloved son and brother, who stands to endure a decade of his life in a Russian prison if we are unable to bring him home.
Trevor was initially detained for public intoxication, but when the Russian Federal Security Service discovered that he was a U.S. marine, they upped the charges and accused him of endangering the lives of police officers. The accusation and the lack of evidence to support it was so ridiculous that even a Russian judge erupted in laughter during his trial.
U.S. Ambassador John Sullivan said justice was not even considered in this case, and described Trevor's trial as a theater of the absurd.
His trial was a sham, and his treatment in the custody of Russian authorities has been nothing short of appalling. He has been denied medical care, counselor access, and has been repeatedly moved without prior or proper notification. Even when he was infected with COVID, the Russians cut off communication with our embassy and with his family. Vladimir Putin himself recently smeared Trevor Reed's name, further underscoring the reality that Trevor's detainment is, in fact, politically motivated.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Michael McCaul for partnering with me to introduce this resolution, and for the support of Chairman Meeks, and for our commitment together in a bipartisan way to stand up for Trevor and the entire Reed family and others who are unlawfully detained.
Mr. Speaker, the passage of this resolution could not be more timely than it is today. In fact, just today, a corrupt Russian appeals court rejected Trevor's final appeal certifying the absurd 9-year sentence.
Our message is simple: The United States will not tolerate an American citizen being held by the Putin regime as a political pawn.
Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to join together and stand firm with Trevor and his family, to reunite Trevor and his family, and to bring him home. Free Trevor Reed.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Hill), a great patriot.
Mr. HILL. Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend from west Texas for this important bill.
Mr. Speaker, recently, I created the Congressional Task Force on American Hostages and Americans Wrongfully Detained Abroad with my colleague, our good friend, Ted Deutch from Florida. I thank Representative Pfluger for being one of the first Members to join that task force.
Mr. Speaker, that is why I come and rise in support of my friend, Representative Pfluger's resolution. This resolution calls for the release of Trevor Reed of Texas; and expresses support for Paul Whelan of Michigan, another American unjustly imprisoned in Russia.
From this debate, we have heard and learned some of the details of Trevor's arrest, sham trial, and absurd sentencing for his alleged crimes. All channels of the United States Government must engage with friends and enemies alike to ensure that Americans in situations like Trevor and Paul are brought home expeditiously.
This is especially the case for Members of Congress who represent the concerned families of those held hostage or wrongfully detained. Here in Congress, we must continue to collaborate with the administration in situations like these to disincentivize wrongful detention and taking hostage of Americans in the future.
Let this be a message to Trevor and Paul and their families: We are committed to bringing you back to the United States safely.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the full committee for his support of this effort and work. I also thank my friend from west Texas. I urge all my colleagues to support this resolution.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. PFLUGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, again, I thank the chairman and Ranking Member McCaul.
Mr. Speaker, the United States must send a strong message to Vladimir Putin that we will not tolerate a U.S. citizen and a marine veteran being held as a political pawn.
I, again, want to recognize those here in the Chamber who have supported this. Ranking Member Michael McCaul from Texas, Mr. Hill from Arkansas, and others for partnering with me on the resolution, that we will not stand for any unlawful detention of any American.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, the American families of those wrongfully detained by Russia are waiting for decisive action. Congress needs to stand united in support of Trevor Reed, Paul Whelan, and all those who have had to suffer terrible conditions and treatment by the Kremlin.
This resolution introduced by Mr. Pfluger makes clear our resolute condemnation of their imprisonment, demanding the release of the American prisoners who are being used as pawns in the Kremlin's political game. It is past time for Russia to release these political prisoners and return them to their families.
Again, I thank Mr. Pfluger for introducing this legislation, and I thank Ranking Member McCaul for working with us. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this resolution.
Mr. Speaker, yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks) that the House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 186.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mrs. GREENE of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to section 3(s) of House Resolution 8, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion are postponed.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 112
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