Rep. Pascrell Wants Accountability As Trump Looks To Lift Sanctions On Russian-Run U.S. Properites

New Jersey's 9th District congressman has introduced legislation designed to hold Russia accountable in its role in the presidential election.

Rep. Bill Pascrell introduced the No Russian DACHA Act in the U.S. House of Representatives this week.

The legislation would ensure that the United States' sanctions against Russia using properties in New York City and Maryland's Eastern Shore would be lifted only after the federal government confirms the facilities were not used for intelligence-gathering purposes.

The Obama administration shuttered the Russian compounds in December 2016 after 17 United States intelligence agencies confirmed that the Russian government meddled in the election, and in response to the "continued harassment of United States diplomatic personnel in Moscow," Pascrell said in a press release. Thirty-five Russian "intelligence operatives" were expelled from the United States as well, The Washington Post reported. "Dacha" is a Russian word referring to country homes families would travel to in the summer on vacation.

The facilities have been in Russia's possession since the Soviet Union existed. Russian embassy and United Nations employees have used the properties to host official events and for recreation, Pascrell said. However, since President Ronald Regan's administration, federal officials think these facilities have been used by Russian personnel to gather intelligence, according to the congressman.

The Trump administration said in May that it would consider turning the properties back over to Russia if the country would lift its ban on sanctions related to the construction of a new U.S. consulate in St. Petersburg, The Washington Post's report stated. But Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said a few days later that the United Stated had "dropped any linkage" between the compounds and consulate, the report stated.

Russia responded to the legislation on its Twitter page Thursday, saying it would respond "tit-for-tat" regarding United States facilities in its country.

The act requires a 120-day review period before the president can waive or limit sanctions against the facilities.

The act would also require President Trump to submit a report to Congress describing any proposed changes to sanctions prior to allowing Russia to access the properties. The Russian government would have to stop its harassment of U.S. diplomatic personnel and the president would have to certify Russia did not use the properties to gather intelligence.

The act grants the Senate and House the right to act or decline to act on any proposed sanctions. If they do not vote in support of a joint resolution disapproving the sanctions, Russia may access the properties.

"While investigations trying to answer that very question are still ongoing, returning these compounds to Russia is premature at best and foolish at worst," Pascrell said the news release. "Let’s show the American people that there can be reasonable decision-makers still at the helm in Washington.”

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Photo: A Russian flag — Wikimedia Commons, used with permission via Creative Commons license