Deputy Attorney General Lisa O. Monaco Delivers Opening Remarks Before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Accountability for Russian War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity in Ukraine

Remarks as Prepared for Delivery

Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman Durbin and Ranking Member Graham, and members of the Judiciary Committee. I am honored to appear before you today to discuss how the Justice Department is working to hold Russia accountable for its brutal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

I want to thank the members of the Committee for their bipartisan leadership in support of the Administration’s response to Russia’s aggression. The Department of Justice welcomes the opportunity to work with the Committee on additional authorities, including:

• Conferring federal criminal jurisdiction over certain crimes against humanity,
• Increasing the range of seized assets we can transfer for the rebuilding of Ukraine,
• And expanding the Department’s authority to prosecute acts of torture committed against U.S. nationals abroad.

These additional tools will strengthen our response.

Before I begin, Mr. Chairman, I want to recognize that today marks 28 years since the Oklahoma City bombing, 35 years since the deadly siege at Waco, and just earlier this week, we recognized the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing.

As we remember and honor the innocent lives lost, we are also reminded of why each of us swore an oath to protect this country and the freedoms for which it stands.

Mindful of that oath, when I appeared before this committee two years ago as a nominee, I pledged to protect our national security and uphold the democratic and rule-of-law values that define us as Americans.

Those values and the Justice Department’s mission to uphold them are what bring me back before this committee today.

For over a year now, Russia has deliberately and unilaterally inflicted horror upon Ukrainians. Its brutal, unprovoked, and unlawful invasion of Ukraine poses a serious threat to global peace and stability. 

Its forces have targeted and viciously attacked civilians:

• By bombing hospitals and apartment buildings;
• By committing sexual violence against women, men, and children—including girls who the United Nations estimates could be as young as four years old;
• By carrying out execution-style murders, including of children;
• And by illegally removing thousands of Ukrainian children to Russia or Russian-occupied territory.

The facts, Mr. Chairman, are clear: Russia has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ukraine.

We cannot—we will not—let war criminals escape accountability for the aggression and atrocities they have committed.

The Justice Department has a clear message for those who have committed these crimes and who think they can get away it: You will face justice. 

Our long history of holding Nazis and terrorists accountable shows that the women and men of the Justice Department never forget—and never give up—in the pursuit of justice.

I was reminded of this resolve in February, when I traveled to Nuremberg, Germany, to visit the courtroom where the United States and allied partners prosecuted Nazi leaders for the atrocities they committed in World War Two.

Through principled adherence to the rule of law, former Attorney General Robert Jackson and other prosecutors sought justice and accountability on behalf of millions of victims. 

Today, this Justice Department and our partners around the world are answering history’s call. Using every tool at our disposal, we are committed to holding the perpetrators and enablers of these atrocities accountable—no matter how long it takes.

We are working closely with our Ukrainian partners. On Monday, the Attorney General and I met with Ukrainian Prosecutor General Kostin to discuss our work together to investigate Russian aggression and war crimes and to hold accountable all those responsible.

Every day since February 24, 2022, the men and women of the Justice Department have responded to Russian aggression by pursuing accountability for Russian war crimes, striking back against malign Russian cyber activity and by using every available tool to limit Russia’s access to the global financial system and degrade its ability to fuel its war machine;

In that time we have:

• Restrained over $500 million—that’s half a billion dollars—in assets of Russian oligarchs and others who unlawfully support the Russian regime and evade U.S. economic countermeasures;
• We’ve indicted over 30 individuals accused of sanctions evasion, export control violations, money laundering, and other crimes
• And arrested defendants in over half a dozen countries.

We are grateful for the tools Congress—and this Committee in particular—has provided to the Department to hold Russia accountable. 

We look forward to working together to expand those tools, to close loopholes, and to stay one step ahead of those who would try to escape justice.

Thank you. I look forward to the Committee’s questions.