Congressman Cohen Introduces Justice for Victims of Kleptocracy Act

WASHINGTON – Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a longtime member of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, has introduced the Justice for Victims of Kleptocracy Act of 2023 (H.R. 137). It is the first bill he has introduced in the 118^th Congress, co-led by Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar (FL-27) and Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01).

The legislation directs the U.S. Department of Justice to publish and update the amount of money that has been stolen by the authoritarian leaders of kleptocratic regimes and recovered by U.S. law enforcement. This straightforward measure would demonstrate America’s commitment to the rule of law around the world and send a powerful message to those suffering under kleptocracies, like those in Russia and Belarus, that the United States is serious about standing by their side.

Congressman Cohen made the following statement:

“As Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine drags on, we must continue to crack down on the theft and corruption that fuels Putin’s regime.  Kleptocrats in Russia and other regimes raid their people’s pension funds, rob from state businesses, and live well on their ill-gotten gains. We see this pattern in almost every authoritarian regime that can get away with it. I support President Biden’s increased efforts to counter corruption around the world, and this measure will fit squarely into it: holding corrupt leaders like Putin accountable by making public exactly how much of their stolen money has been recovered by the United States and from whom it was stolen.” 

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