In recent days Congressman Cline has taken deserved heat for his anti-NATO votes in 2019 and again last week. The latest vote was particularly ill-timed at a moment when NATO is largely united in standing up to brutal Russian aggression against Ukraine.
That may explain why Cline is so anxious to point out in his latest campaign fundraising letter that he was one of “several” members of the House of Representatives who have been officially sanctioned by Russia.
What Cline didn’t mention is that the “several” were in fact 398— ranging from Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to Republicans like Marjorie Talyor Greene.
Even North Carolina Republican Madison Cawthorn— who has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky a “thug” and the Ukrainian government “incredibly evil”– is on the sanctions list.
In fact the only reason some House members (such as Speaker Nancy Pelosi) are missing from the list is that Russia had previously sanctioned them.
The sanctions are in apparent retaliation for the US government sanctioning more than 300 members of the Russian Duma in March.
So, much as Cline might want us to believe that Vladimir Putin regards him as a particular threat to Russian interests, that appears not to be the case.
UPDATE: More on why all this rings a little hollow.
Cline Watch 
Ben, it’s time for a new digital media team. Given your close alignment with some of the worst in your party, and there’s only so much your comms people can do for your image. But turning Putin’s Stop List stunt into a campaign fund appeal makes you look like the local head of a pyramid marketing scheme. A little dignity, please. You do realize we’re all paying for your salary and benefits, don’t you?
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