Pramila Jayapal and other members of the House Progressive Caucus hold a press conference ahead of the vote on the Inflation Reduction Act on August 12, 2022.
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Pramila Jayapal and other members of the House Progressive Caucus hold a press conference ahead of the vote on the Inflation Reduction Act on August 12, 2022.
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A day after parliamentary progressives sent President Biden a letter asking him to change his approach to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the group abruptly changed course amid strong backlash from Democratic lawmakers.
Parliamentary Group chairman Rep. “The Congressional Progress Group is withdrawing its last letter to the White House on Ukraine,” Pramila Jayapal said on Tuesday.
The face-to-face comes after frustrated Democratic lawmakers submitted their statements to social media. The letter, originally drafted and signed by 30 members this summer, was not redistributed before it was made public on Monday.
Representative Sara Jacobs of D-Calif. tweeted that she signed the letter at the end of June, but “won’t sign it today.”
Timing is everything in diplomacy.
I signed this letter on June 30, but a lot has changed since then. I wouldn’t sign today.
We must continue to support Ukraine economically and militarily to give them the leverage they need to end this war. https://t.co/jEJlTK1hJI
— Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (@RepSaraJacobs) 25 October 2022
“In diplomacy, timing is everything. I signed this letter on June 30, but a lot has changed since then. I wouldn’t sign it today,” Jacobs said. “We must continue to support Ukraine economically and militarily to give them the leverage they need to end this war,” he said.
Representative Mark Pocan of D-Wis, a former leader of the progressive party, tweeted that he “had no idea” why the letter was published.
I heard you. First, it was written this July and I have no idea why it’s out now. Bad timing. Second, he was trying to reach a truce and diplomacy while others were beating the drums of war rather than criticizing Biden. Third, I supported the efforts and will continue. Overanalyzed by some.
— Mark Pocan (@MarkPocan) 25 October 2022
“Only Ukrainians have the right to determine the conditions under which this war will end,” Representative Mark Takano, D-Calif., another signatory who also chairs the Veterans Affairs Committee, said in a statement.
In a response Tuesday, Jayapal claimed responsibility for publishing the letter, stating that it was “written a few months ago” and “unfortunately, it was released without review by staff”.
Jayapal added that the message from House progressives was “combined” with recent comments by House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who suggested that Republicans could withdraw funds for Ukraine if they retake the House in November.
“The immediacy of these statements created the unfortunate appearance that the Democrats who voted and strongly and unanimously supported any package of military, strategic and economic aid to the Ukrainian people were somewhat in line with the Republicans who were trying to pull the plug on America. Support for President Zelensky and the Ukrainian forces. ,” wrote Jayapal, “it really can’t be anything more.”
In his letter, House urged progressives to push Biden into establishing direct diplomatic relations with Russia, and urged the president to “match the military and economic support provided by the United States to Ukraine with a proactive diplomatic push for a ceasefire.”
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