{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-as-evacuation-of-eastern-aleppo-syria-continues", "Cardin Statement As Evacuation of Eastern Aleppo, Syria Continues", "2016-12-15", "2016", "2016-12", "Democrat", "House", "MD", "Benjamin Cardin", "C000141", "www.cardin.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "December 15, 2016\n\t\t\t Cardin Statement As Evacuation of Eastern Aleppo, Syria Continues \n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\nWASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Ranking Member of the Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement Thursday as the evacuation of civilians from Eastern Aleppo, Syria was underway:\r\n\u201cI welcome the news that some civilians have been evacuated from eastern Aleppo. This evacuation operation is complex and will take time \u2013 it is absolutely critical that the ceasefire remains in place and humanitarian access continue to allow for safe and secure evacuation operations.\u00a0 I implore the international community to maintain pressure on Assad, Russia, and Iran so that they comply with the terms of the ceasefire in order to save lives and protect civilians.\r\n\u201cWhether civilians remain or evacuate, they deserve dignity and they deserve protection from grievous harm.\r\n\u201cThe world is watching the conduct of Bashar al-Assad, Russia, and Iran.\u00a0 I am highly disturbed by reports that Iran-backed militias fired on evacuation vehicles \u2013 these atrocities must be prevented and when they cannot, the international community must unify in our condemnation and in our effort to hold the perpetrators accountable.\r\n\u201cI whole-heartedly reject Assad\u2019s assertions today that the evacuation is a triumphal event. \u00a0No one is fooled:\u00a0 Assad and his backers are guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and have inflicted a gross campaign of torture, starvation, and violence on the people of Syria. \u00a0He has no legitimacy to lead Syria.\u201d\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t  \n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t \n\t\t\n\t\t\tPrint\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tEmail\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\tTweet\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t \n\t\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n    \n\t\n\t\n    \n    \n    \n    \t\n    \t\n\t    \t  \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tNext Article\n\t\t    \n\t\t    \n\t\t    \tPrevious Article", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cardin.senate.gov/newsroom/press/release/cardin-statement-as-evacuation-of-eastern-aleppo-syria-continues"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.697789179161191, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}