Senator J.D. Vance is demanding the Biden administration clarify whether Ukrainian militia spokesman John Ashton-Cirillo (who calls himself Sarah) has any ties to U.S. intelligence or if he receives public funds from Washington. The Ohio legislator is concerned about the threats Ashton-Cirillo made in a video last week. He threatened to "hunt down Russian propagandists" around the world and asked the heads of various departments about Ashton-Cirillo's credibility.
I'd like like the Biden administration to explain who this crazy Ukrainian spokesperson is, and whether they stand by Ukraine's clear attack on free speech: https://t.co/bsGZ7U8iJN
— J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) September 18, 2023
Letter to the Departments of State and Defense and the Director of National Intelligence
In addition to sending a letter – which was accessed by Breitbart,– to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, Senator Vance also posted on his X account (Twitter) demanding an explanation. "I'd like the Biden administration to explain who this crazy Ukrainian spokesperson is and whether they stand by Ukraine's clear attack on free speech."
Vance demands that senior executive officials clarify whether Ashton-Cirillo is American, if he worked with any of the U.S. intelligence agencies before going to work for Zelensky's government, and whether he tried to get aid for Ukraine last year from Congress:
- Is this individual employed by the Ukrainian military, and do we have reason to believe they are compensated using American resources?
- Is this individual an American citizen? Did they ever serve, in any capacity, American intelligence services?
- Do we have reason to believe Ukrainian forces or intelligence services are planning to commit acts of violence against those who engage in ‘Russian propaganda?
Vance spoke to Breitbart and said, "If the Ukrainians want to hire weirdos to threaten Americans and others for speaking their minds, I guess that’s their right. They shouldn’t use our tax dollars to do it. And we shouldn’t pretend this is a war for freedom when our supposed ally is threatening violence to anyone who opposes the war."
