Russia has expanded its list of sanctioned Americans in a tit-for-tat retaliation for the latest curbs imposed by the United States. But what’s even more shocking is how many of Russia’s President Vladimir V. Putin’s adopted enemies are considered by former President Donald J. Trump to be his own.
Among the 500 people singled out for travel and financial restrictions on Friday were Americans seen as opponents of Mr. Trump, including Letitia James, the New York state attorney general who sued him for allegedly fraud, and Jack Smith, the special Justice Department. attorney investigating his efforts to overturn the 2020 election and his handling of classified documents after he left office.
Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state who refused to push Mr. Trump to “find” enough votes to overturn the outcome of the election, also made the list. So is Lt. Michael Byrd, the Capitol Police officer who shot pro-Trump rioter Ashli Babbitt on January 6, 2021.
None of them have anything to do with Russia policy, and the only apparent reason they have noticed in Moscow is because Mr. Trump has publicly attacked them. The Russian Foreign Ministry did not specifically explain why they would be included in the list but said that among its targets were “those in government and law enforcement agencies directly involved in the persecution of dissidents because of in the so-called invasion of the Capitol.”
Earlier this month, Mr. Trump tried to rewrite history that day and dangled pardons for convicted rioters if he was elected to a second term. He also refused to commit to supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia if he is re-elected president, saying he would seek to mediate between Kyiv and Moscow.
Perhaps, the Russian sanctions will have little actual effect on Ms. James, Mr. Smith, Mr. Raffensperger or Lieutenant Byrd, as neither of them was known to have assets in Russia or plan to travel there. Reposted by Mr. Raffensperger tweeted from Gabriel Sterling, his chief operating officer, who wrote: “A great honor for @GaSecofState Raffensperger. He is one of hundreds of Americans banned from Russia by Vladimir Putin. That means Brad did something right.
