So today, I found out about H.R. 6869 from 2022’s legislative circus. I’m certain it’s pure coincidence that it was introduced four days after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began…
A BILL
To authorize the President of the United States to issue letters of marque and reprisal for the purpose of seizing the assets of certain Russian citizens, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. Issuance of letters of marque and reprisal for purpose of seizing assets of certain Russian citizens.
(a) Authority of President.—The President of the United States is authorized and requested to commission, under officially issued letters of marque and reprisal, so many of privately armed and equipped persons and entities as, in the judgment of the President, the service may require, with suitable instructions to the leaders thereof, to employ all means reasonably necessary to seize outside the geographic boundaries of the United States and its territories any yacht, plane, or other asset of any Russian citizen who is on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury.
Kinda makes me want to run “you are a team of privateers in the business of stealing Russian kleptocrats’ high-value toys” as a Spycraft campaign.
What’s Russian for “heave to and prepare to be boarded?”