Michael McCaul
Role at the time: U.S. Representative from Texas and former chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in a post on X
Statement summary
Rep. Michael McCaul said that while he understood the desire to bring down diesel prices, he was concerned that lifting sanctions on Russian oil would only fund the Kremlin's war machine.
“Unfortunately, while I understand the desire to bring down diesel prices, I am concerned the lifting of sanctions on Russian oil will only fund the Kremlin’s war machine—emboldening more violence and destruction, as we have seen in recent days.”
The congressman's own post on his official account.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Why we used this label
The case asks whether the U.S. should ease sanctions on Russian diesel to lower fuel prices, as the administration did on October 9. McCaul says he understands "the desire to bring down diesel prices" but is "concerned the lifting of sanctions on Russian oil will only fund the Kremlin". That opposes the easing, so we labeled it Condemned. The closest competing label is Mixed or conditional; it loses because acknowledging the goal does not qualify his objection to the means.