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SCOOP: Franklin Graham traveled to Moscow and had a sit-down meeting with a sanctioned Russian official earlier this month—and claimed Mike Pence supported the trip. thinkprogress.org/why-was-frankl… 
Here’s what we know about Franklin Graham’s trip to Moscow earlier this month:
1. Graham met with Vyacheslav Volodin, who’s been sanctioned by the U.S. for five years. They discussed how to strengthen ties between Congress and the Duma. thinkprogress.org/why-was-frankl…
1. Graham met with Vyacheslav Volodin, who’s been sanctioned by the U.S. for five years. They discussed how to strengthen ties between Congress and the Duma. thinkprogress.org/why-was-frankl…
2. Graham told Russian media that @VP Pence signed off on the travel to Moscow, and that he “fully supported” Graham’s trip. (Pence has not publicly commented on the trip.)
3. It was the highest-profile meeting we’ve seen thus far between a Religious Right leader and a sanctioned Russian official—and Franklin Graham described it as an “honor.” thinkprogress.org/why-was-frankl…
4. (For a deep dive into how Franklin Graham fits into the broader nexus of links between Russian officials and American Religious Right figures, highly recommend reading @jackmjenkins: ncronline.org/news/politics/…)
@jackmjenkins 5. Volodin's not well-known in the U.S., but he should be.
Not only was he sanctioned after Crimea, but he helped steer Russia's post-2012 hard-right turn—and reportedly authored the ban on Americans being able to adopt Russian children. thinkprogress.org/why-was-frankl…
Not only was he sanctioned after Crimea, but he helped steer Russia's post-2012 hard-right turn—and reportedly authored the ban on Americans being able to adopt Russian children. thinkprogress.org/why-was-frankl…
@jackmjenkins 6. Graham's visit to Moscow coincides with the annual conference for the U.S.-based World Congress of Families, another Christian fundamentalist group that's partnered in the past with Russian oligarchs who are now sanctioned. thinkprogress.org/here-are-the-a…
@jackmjenkins 7. It's unclear what happens next with Franklin Graham and Volodin, or Graham and any other sanctioned Russian officials.
But Graham wants one thing from us: "Remember to keep [Volodin] in your prayers.” thinkprogress.org/why-was-frankl…
But Graham wants one thing from us: "Remember to keep [Volodin] in your prayers.” thinkprogress.org/why-was-frankl…
@jackmjenkins (Update to this story: Graham's spox says he's currently traveling and unavailable to answer questions about his trip to Russia and meeting with Volodin.)
ICYMI
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