Senator J.D. Vance | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Senator J.D. Vance | Official U.S. Senate headshot
In a recent development, Senator JD Vance from Ohio has expressed concerns regarding the actions of Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, who claims to be a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military. The senator has addressed these concerns in a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines.
Senator Vance's letter highlights a video featuring Ashton-Cirillo, where she allegedly threatens physical violence against individuals disseminating "Russian propaganda." The senator states: “In recent days, a video has circulated of an individual who claims to be an English-speaking spokesperson for the Ukrainian military. In the video, this individual, Sarah Ashton-Cirillo, looks directly into the camera and threatens physical violence to anyone who circulates ‘Russian propaganda.’”
The letter also points out various unconfirmed reports about Ashton-Cirillo's background. Some suggest that she is American, possibly a former intelligence operative in the United States or an employee of the Ukrainian government. Others speculate that her actions might be part of an elaborate prank.
Expressing his concern over potential misuse of American resources, Senator Vance adds: “I worry American resources could be supporting violence or the threat of violence against people for speaking their mind. Notably, any critic of America’s incoherent policy in Ukraine has been slandered as propagandists, including multiple presidential candidates and American journalists. While we can debate the merits of these accusations, engaging in protected speech should not invite threats of violence—otherwise, the First Amendment means nothing.”
The full text of Senator Vance’s letter is available through his official communication channels.
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