The senator's Independent challenger Evan McMullin noted the Republican had the 'incredible distinction' of not being blacklisted by the Kremlin.
In response, Lee said during Monday night's debate he voted against the 2017 Russia sanction bill because it was"cobbled together in a piece of legislation with some progressive ideology."The Republican said that he visited Russia in 2019 at the invitation of former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who at the time was the U.S. ambassador to Russia.
"As to why they haven't blacklisted me, I don't know. I'd love to be blacklisted there. I've been banned for life from China. I hope Russia will ban me next. But for you to suggest, as you have repeatedly, that I'm some sort of fan of Vladimir Putin is absolutely false and disgraceful."In a 2019 opinion piece forLee said he visited Russia in 2019 in order to attempt"open and honest dialogue" with Moscow while criticizing Putin's regime.
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