'I hope to God': Navalny death must spur U.S. lawmakers to act against Russia, Biden says

The reported death of Russia's opposition leaderhas landed in the midst of a momentous battle in Washington over whether to keep funding Russia's military adversary.

President Joe Biden expressed a hope Friday that lawmakers in his country would respond to the death of Alexei Navalnyby punishing Russia through extending weapons assistance to Ukraine.

He saluted Navalnyas a brave, principled man who knowingly risked his safety by returningto Russia from exile in 2021.

Biden made clear at a news conference Friday that he blames Russia's leader for the death, even if the specific cause remains unknown:"[Vladimir] Putin [once] had him poisoned, he had him arrested, he had him prosecuted....Putin is responsible."

He said he was outraged, but not surprised, by Navalny'sdeath,reported Friday bythe prison service of the remote Yamalo-Nenets region where he had been serving his sentence.

Biden then urged members of the U.S. Congress to respond by passing a bill that would send Ukraine nearly $60billion US in weapons, roughly one year's supply.

WATCH | Biden addresses reported death of Alexei Navalny:

Biden has no doubt Putin is responsible in Navalnys reported death

7 months ago

Duration 2:04

U.S. President Joe Biden says 'we don't know exactly what happened' to Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, who was reported dead by Russian officials. But Biden says there's 'no doubt' Navalny's death was a consequence of Russian officials and Vladimir Putin.

"History is watching the House of Representatives," Biden saidof thebill, which passed the Senate butrisks getting stuck in the Republican-led House.

Biden was unequivocal when asked whether Navalny's death might spur movement on the bill."I hope to God it helps." But he took a dig at the House of Representatives for going on recess, calling the legislative delayludicrous.

"It's about time they step up, don't you think? Instead of going on a two-week vacation," Biden said. "Two weeks! What are they thinking? My God. This is bizarre. This is outrageous."

Biden said he's also considering new sanctions on top of the ones he's already announced against Russia, but did not get into specifics:"We're looking at a whole number of options."

Divisions on the right when it comes to Russia

The reaction to Navalny's death on the U.S. right has been complex. The Republican Party and conservative movement remained torn on matters related to Putin's Russia.

Intheir public statements Friday, Republicans appeared to be taking shots at each other. From lawmakers to staffers, some accused their fellow partisans of being Putin lackeys.

Former vice-president Mike Pence calledPutin a war criminaland said there's no room in the Republican Party for his apologists.In a similar message to his own party, Sen. Mitt Romney quoted scripturefrom the Book of Isaiah:"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil."

But theRepublican Party's presumed presidential nominee didn't say anything. Donald Trump didn't mention the bombshell worldnews amonghis dozens of social media posts Friday. The silence was reminiscent of 2020when Navalny was poisoned and Trump avoideddiscussing it.

Trump's long shot primary opponent Nikki Haley issued a statement to drawattention to his apparent disinterest in broaching thetopic.

"Putin murdered his political opponent and Trump hasn't said a word after he said he would encourage Putin to invade our allies," she posted on X, the site formerly known as Twitter.

"[Trump]has, however, posted 20+ times on social media about his legal drama and fake polls."

Some of Trump's boosters offeredan alternate take on Friday's news.In their telling, he is the Navalnyin American politics, the persecuted opposition politician.

This was on a day Trump, who already faces91 criminal charges, was fined nearly $355million US in a New York court for fraudulent business practices.Trump will appeal.

The jarring news from Russia came amid an ongoing debate about right-wing commentator Tucker Carlson's recent trip to Russia. Carlson interviewed Putinand commented favourably on life in Russia,pointing to a beautiful Moscow train station and cheaper groceries.

At asummitearlier this week in Dubai, Carlson was asked whyhe didn't push Putin about topics including Navalny, free speech in Russia, political assassinations, or banning political opposition.

Carlson replied that he didn't want to bother asking predictable questions other western media would have asked. He also appeared to justify Putin's political violence.

"Every leader kills people. Including my leader. Every leader kills people," Carlson said."Some kill more than others. Leadership requires killing people. Sorry."

However, after Friday's news, the former Fox News host released a statement callingNavalny's death horrifying, awful, barbaric, and something no decent person would defend.

WATCH | Trudeau says Navalny aninspirationfor standing up to Putin:

Trudeau reflects on Navalny's 'extraordinary courage' following reports of his death

7 months ago

Duration 1:43

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Alexei Navalny was a fighter for human rights, democracy and standing up for the Russian people and the country's future. Navalny's reported death is a moment to reflect on his courage and inspiration and "double and triple down in our resolve" to stand up against Vladimir Putin, Trudeau added.

With divisions in the party, the Republican House leadership split the difference.

Speaker Mike Johnson condemned the Russian leader but, on the other hand, remained coy about what he intends to do on the most pressing U.S.-Russia issue of the moment: the military funding bill.

"Vladimir Putin is a vicious dictator and the world knows he is likely directly responsible," Johnson said in a statement. "This is the latest attempt to send a message to those working to confront Moscow's aggression. In the coming days, as international leaders are meeting in Munich, we must be clear that Putin will be met with united opposition."

He added that, as Congress considers the bill, the U.S. and its partners should use economic measures to cut off Putin's ability to fund his Ukraine war.