Jim Banks questions State Department over Russia link memo

Rep. Jim Banks (R-IN) has raised concerns regarding a memo from the State Department that seemingly linked him to a Russian website. In a letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Banks criticized the memo as a 'sloppy and hypocritical lie,' claiming it misrepresented his statements on state-funded censorship. The memo referenced a quote from Banks that was altered and attributed to a Russian news outlet, suggesting a connection to Russian influence operations. Banks highlighted that the original quote was provided to the Washington Examiner in February 2023, which reported on the State Department's funding of the Global Disinformation Index, a group accused of targeting right-leaning media. He expressed alarm over the State Department's use of a misquoted statement to undermine his defense of the First Amendment and free speech rights. Banks has requested answers from the State Department by October 1, questioning their motives and the accuracy of their press guidance. He also inquired about the frequency of attacks on elected officials in their communications and whether they assess their guidance for misinformation. The State Department has not commented on the matter, leaving Banks and others concerned about the implications of the memo and its potential impact on public discourse and political accountability.