FACT CHECK: Post Claims To Show Alexei Navalny’s Mother Accusing His Wife
'The voice in the video is made from artificial intelligence. There is no evidence Navalny's mother made this accusation'
CNN reporter asks Biden insidious question targeting House Republicans — but even Biden rejects it
A CNN reporter tried on Monday to get President Joe Biden to blame House Republicans for the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
Last week, Navalny died while imprisoned in the infamous "Polar Wolf" Russian prison in the Arctic Circle. Russian authorities claim Navalny died suddenly after a walk, but most Western officials blame the Russian government and Russian President Vladimir Putin for Navalny's untimely death.
But on Monday, CNN senior White House correspondent MJ Lee asked Biden if House Republicans — not Putin, not the brutal Siberian cold, and not a disease — are responsible for Nalvany's death.
"Mr. President, would you go as far as to say that Alexei Navalny’s blood is on the hands of House Republicans right now?" Lee asked Biden as he returned to the White House.
The suggestion implicit in the question — which Lee herself later admitted to — is that House Republicans, who do not support giving Ukraine tens of billions in more taxpayer money without first addressing domestic issues like the border crisis, are somehow culpable for emboldening Putin to eliminate one of his top political threats.
But even Biden rejected that premise.
"I wouldn't use that term," he responded before attacking Republicans on Ukraine funding.
"They're making a big mistake not responding," he said. "Look, the way they're walking away from the threat of Russia, the way they're walking away from NATO, the way they're walking away from meeting our obligations, it's just shocking. I mean, they're wild. I've never seen anything like this."
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The manner in which Biden characterized the position of House Republicans is, at best, uncharitable and, at worst, downright false.
House Republicans do not want to walk away from foreign policy obligations, nor do they ignore the threat that Russia poses. It was Barack Obama, after all, who famously chided Mitt Romney for saying that Russia is America's top geopolitical threat.
Instead, House Republicans want to prioritize domestic issues — like the border crisis and the national security threat it poses — over funding a proxy war. Biden, moreover, has refused to give Americans a clear strategic plan that outlines how taxpayer dollars will help Ukraine defeat Russia. He has also failed to explain why taxpayer money should fund the war at all.
Those facts aside, Lee's question is yet another example of why Americans do not trust the legacy media.
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Lindsey Graham calls for US to designate Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina is calling for the U.S. to declare Russia a state sponsor of terrorism.
He advocated for making Russia "pay a price for killing" Alexei Navalny.
The Russian opposition figure, who was just 47 years old, died last week.
"They deserve this designation," Graham declared, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been killing "opposition leaders for decades now."
Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District claimed that Navalny had "felt unwell" and lost consciousness, reports indicate.
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If designated, Russia would join a list of nations that currently includes Iran, Cuba, North Korea, and Syria.
"Countries determined by the Secretary of State to have repeatedly provided support for acts of international terrorism are designated pursuant to three laws: section1754(c) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, section 40 of the Arms Export Control Act, and section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961). Taken together, the four main categories of sanctions resulting from designation under these authorities include restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance; a ban on defense exports and sales; certain controls over exports of dual use items; and miscellaneous financial and other restrictions," according to the U.S. State Department website.
"Designation under the above-referenced authorities also implicates other sanctions laws that penalize persons and countries engaging in certain trade with state sponsors," the department notes.
Last month, Graham urged the Biden administration to strike Iran.
"The Biden Administration can take out all the Iranian proxies they like, but it will not deter Iranian aggression. I am calling on the Biden Administration to strike targets of significance inside Iran, not only as reprisal for the killing of our forces, but as deterrence against future aggression," Graham declared in a tweet. "Hit Iran now. Hit them hard," he urged.
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US figures respond to reported death of Russian Alexei Navalny
Russian figure Alexei Navalny's has died, Russia's Federal Penitentiary Service has claimed, according to reports.
The reports note that Navalny was just 47 years old.
During remarks on Friday, President Joe Biden called Navalny "brave" and said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is responsible for the man's death.
Biden also continued calling for the U.S. to provide additional aid to assist Ukraine as that country defend itself against Russia.
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Former President Barack Obama declared in a social media post that "Aleksey Navalny was a fearless advocate for his beliefs who died unbroken by the tyranny he opposed. He fought corruption, inspired millions and never wavered in his insistence on free expression, the rule of law, and a Russia that is accountable to the people and not a dictator. He died in unyielding defense of his vision of a better future for his country - a vision, and a courageous example, that will never die."
Republican Reps. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Eli Crane of Arizona, Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee, Byron Donalds of Florida, Russ Fulcher of Idaho, Andy Harris of Maryland, Troy Nehls of Texas, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Andy Ogles of Tennessee, and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin issued a joint statement.
"If true, Alexei Navalny’s death is grievous and yet another sobering reminder of the dangers and oppression of totalitarian leaders and governments that will silence opposing thoughts and bar free speech at any cost. No matter where they occur, these atrocities must be resoundingly and unequivocally condemned. Mr. Navalny's death is a conspicuous and significant blow to the worldwide pro-freedom and anti-tyranny fight," the statement reads.
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