U.S. Representative Lance Gooden of Texas presented legislation on Monday that would require President Joe Biden to issue Letters of Marque and Reprisal for the seizure of yachts, planes, or other property owned by a Russian national on the Treasury Department’s list of sanctioned individuals.
Letters of Marque and Reprisal are a historic instrument provided by the United States Constitution to allow private persons or groups to capture enemy property on the government’s behalf.
The bill, known as H.R. 6869, would permit individual Americans to seize property belonging to Russian billionaires.
Following Gooden’s footsteps, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) has also co-sponsored a bill to prevent individuals or companies from purchasing gold from Russia. Secondary sanctions would be imposed on anyone dealing with or transporting gold from Russia’s central bank reserves, as well as anyone selling gold physically or electronically in Russia. In a press release, Cornyn explained that this bill would help close a loophole in the economic sanctions against Russia.
Gooden said that the U.S. needs to do more to pressure Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine.
“Putin’s inner circle have planes and yachts sitting at airports and harbors all over the world,” he said in a news release. “If President Biden refuses to act quickly, then it is time Congress and American citizens take matters into their own hands. Russian oligarchs must be held accountable for enabling the disgusting invasion of Ukraine.”
The U.S. Representative wanted intentions to be clear that the bill would not include property inside of Russia or cyberspace. Also, private hackers would not be utilized to deplete oligarchs’ digital wallets at the moment.
“It pertains to any property outside Russia owned by Russian oligarchs on the Treasury’s list of sanctioned individuals,” Gooden told VICE. “Any physical property in the United States, Europe, international waters, or other territory is fair game.”
He further told Fortune that the letters would hold Russia liable without involving the U.S. military or portraying an escalatory message and that the letters are an “overlooked tool.”
“My primary goal is to hold Russia accountable while minimizing the risk of escalating this conflict. This requires creativity and exploring options available to us that may not be conventional,” Gooden said.
President Joe Bidden has already placed several sanctions against Russia. The latest one included banning all energy imports from the country.
However, there has been pressure for President Biden’s administration to increase sanctions until Russia is forced to stop its war against Ukraine. According to media reports, hundreds of civilians have been killed since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched attacks on Ukraine.
In response to the recent sanctions, Putin has approved a plan to seize property owned by foreigners in their country who have left or suspended their operations.
The U.S. previously issued Letters of Marque during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812. They are still theoretically on the books since they are written into the Constitution.