The Justice Department under President Trump is shutting down Task Force KleptoCapture, an initiative launched after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine to enforce sanctions and target Kremlin-linked oligarchs.
A previously unreported memo from Attorney General Pam Bondi, issued Wednesday as part of a wave of first-day directives, announced the task force’s dissolution. The memo stated that resources dedicated to sanction enforcement and asset seizures would instead be redirected to fighting drug cartels and international gangs. “This policy requires a fundamental change in mindset and approach,” Bondi wrote, emphasizing the administration’s shift in priorities.
Task Force KleptoCapture was established under Biden’s administration as part of a broader effort to freeze Russia out of global markets and punish individuals accused of violating sanctions and export controls. The initiative led to indictments against aluminum magnate Oleg Deripaska and TV tycoon Konstantin Malofeyev, as well as the seizure of yachts linked to sanctioned oligarchs Suleiman Kerimov and Viktor Vekselberg. It also secured a guilty plea from a U.S. lawyer who facilitated $3.8 million in payments for Vekselberg’s properties.
Prosecutors assigned to the task force will return to their previous roles, with the changes in effect for at least 90 days, subject to renewal or permanence. The shift aligns with Trump’s broader approach to foreign policy, as he has previously spoken about improving relations with Moscow and vowed to end the war in Ukraine.
