Russia slapped a travel ban Thursday on nine U.S. lawmakers and officials, the first retaliation against the United States for its sanctions against Russia for annexing Crimea. Among those sanctioned as it were Senator Mary Landrieu. s the head of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Louisiana Democrat can influence U.S. policy on petroleum and natural gas, two natural resources that Russia also exports.
I received an email from Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana today indicating that she wears the entry ban imposed by Russia as a badge of honor?
Her email communication read as follows:
“Dear Friends,
Earlier today, Russia’s President Vladimir Putin banned nine U.S. Officials from entry to Russia because of their efforts to promote democracy and freedom. I was one of them.
I want you to hear it from me first: I wear these sanctions by Putin as a badge of honor.
It will not stop me from using my power as chair of the Energy Committee to promote America as an energy superpower and help increase energy exports around the world.
We must minimize Russia’s influence over Europe, the former Soviet states-especially Ukraine that has fought so long for freedom-and our allies.
Know that I will not back down, and that I will continue to support democracy and freedom at home and aboard.”
Read more about these sanction in this WWL article http://www.landrieu.senate.gov/?p=news&id=4306
Sincerely,
Senator Mary Landrieu