Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2022
Did Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson visit Russia on the Fourth of July?
In 2018, Republican Sen. Ron Johnson visited Moscow, Russia with a group of seven other members of Congress on the Fourth of July. During the visit, the group warned Russia to not interfere with the U.S. 2018 midterm elections.
Election interference was the main topic the lawmakers discussed with top Russian officials. It was the first congressional delegation to visit Russia since the annexation of Crimea in 2014. The trip was scheduled a month before former President Donald Trump was set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The visit drew criticism because it happened to fall on the Fourth of July; however, to suggest that the trip was a celebration of the American holiday is a misrepresentation of facts.
This fact brief is responsive to conversations such as this one.
Sources
- Roll Call After Moscow Trip, Ron Johnson Says Election Meddling Overblown
- NPR GOP Senators Spend Independence Day In Moscow
- The Hill GOP senators visited Moscow on July 4, warned Russia against meddling in 2018 election: report
- Washington Post Republicans on Russia trip face scorn and ridicule from critics at home
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