Among 77 Americans permanently blacklisted from entering the Russian Federation is Texas attorney James E. “Trey” Trainor III, who serves on the Federal Elections Commission.

Russia’s foreign ministry announced this week they were permanently adding 33 governors and various state and federal officials to the list of Americans prohibited from entering the country. The ministry’s news statement said the action was taken due to the United States’ “hostile actions against Russia.”

Trainor said he is glad that as an appointee of President Donald Trump to the FEC, he has been able to work against “Russian interference” in U.S. elections.

“While left and right may not agree on the amount of regulation, if any, we should have on U.S. citizens participating in our electoral process, the one thing we can all agree on is that foreign governments involvement is never warranted,” Trainor told Texas Scorecard. “I’m proud my actions at the FEC to address and stop Russian interference in U.S. elections has their ire up. Only our citizens should decide our elections.”

In all, Russia lists 1,344 Americans as being permanently banned from entering their country.

Trainor has long been recognized as a leading expert on elections in Texas and around the country. He was appointed to the FEC by Trump in 2020.

Last fall, Trainor was the subject of a Texas Scorecard Conversation, in which he discussed free political speech and election security.

 

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