Earlier this week, Rep. Thomas Massie voted against the Asset Seizure for Ukraine Reconstruction Act, which is a symbolic bill that called on President Joe Biden to seize already frozen assets of oligarchs connected to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Massie joined Republicans Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), and Chip Roy (R-Md.). In unusual circumstances, these republicans were also joined by the “squad,” which is democratic Representatives Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).
Massie said he voted against the bill because giving that power to the president is not healthy.
“Giving Joe Biden unilateral authority to seize property in the United States without any due process sets a dangerous and disturbing precedent,” Massie said.
Massie’s Democratic opponent in the 4th Congressional District, Matt Lehman, likened the long-time Kentucky incumbent as “Putin’s best friend in Congress.”
“Extremism is extremism, regardless of party,” Lehman said. ‘Kentuckians support Ukrainians fighting for their lives and for their communities. The United States will seize ill-gotten assets of Russian oligarchs to help fund Ukraine’s defense. Kentucky will do its part to remove the extremist Thomas Massie from office this November.”