U.S. Citizens Could Seize Airplanes and Other Russian Property Under House Bill

Texas Republican Lance Gooden proposes use of marque and reprisal against oligarchs.

Tuesday, March 01, 2022 at 04:17 PM ET

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The bill, H.R.6869, seeks to enact rules called letters of marque and reprisal, to take airplanes and other possessions away from Russian oligarchs. [File Photo: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

Rep. Lance Gooden has introduced a bill (H.R.6869) that would allow U.S. citizens to seize property, including aircraft, from Russian oligarchs.
The bill seeks to re-enact "letters of marque and reprisal," a historical practice not used by the U.S. since the War of 1812, which would effectively deputize private citizens for asset confiscation.
This legislative effort is aimed at holding Russia accountable for its invasion of Ukraine by targeting the assets of oligarchs who enable President Putin.

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Rep. Lance Gooden, a Republican from Texas, has introduced a bill that would allow U.S. citizens to seize property, including aircraft, from Russian oligarchs. The bill, H.R.6869, seeks to enact rules called letters of marque and reprisal, which the U.S. used extensively during the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, but not since.

As posted on the congressional website, the bill is meant “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.”