WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Ashley Moody and Senator
Rick Scott sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio applauding his
continued efforts with President Trump to hold the Venezuelan regime
accountable as they work to bring freedom and democracy to Venezuela. In the
letter, the Senators urge Secretary Rubio to continue the administration’s
maximum pressure on the regime, including through sanctions and cracking down
on Venezuelan criminal organizations as he works to secure the release of the
remaining American hostages held in Venezuela.
Read the full letter HERE or below.
Dear Secretary Rubio:
Thank you for your dedication to
protecting Americans abroad, restoring peace through strength, and working to
get every citizen held as political prisoners around the world home. The
release of seven Americans wrongfully imprisoned in Venezuela this year
represents a crucial victory in the fight against the brutal, illegitimate
regime of Dictator Nicolás Maduro. We are profoundly grateful to you, President
Trump, and the entire administration for your unwavering commitment to securing
the freedom of Americans held captive by this criminal dictatorship.
While we celebrate the Trump
administration’s success in bringing these Americans home, we cannot lose sight
of at least eight other American citizens who remain detained and the broader
fight for freedom and democracy in Venezuela. Nor can we ignore the ongoing
suffering of the Venezuelan people under this oppressive regime. The United
States must stand firmly with the people of Venezuela and remain unrelenting in
its opposition to Maduro’s corrupt and authoritarian rule.
You know best that the Obama/Biden
appeasement policies only brought more instability and allowed evil to thrive
in the region. Thank God you and President Trump are working tirelessly to
reverse these dangerous policies and build on President Trump’s legacy of
holding tyrannical dictators accountable and never appeasing those who threaten
American citizens and our values.
I fully support President Trump’s
decisive action in designating the dangerous Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua,
as a terrorist organization and the administration’s efforts to continue
applying maximum pressure to Maduro’s thugs. It is my hope that the administration
is considering adding Cartel de los Soles, and La Direccion General de
Contrainteligencia Militar (DGCIM) (General Directorate of Military
Counterintelligence of the Government of Venezuela) to the list of terrorist
organizations. Nicolás Maduro’s illegitimate regime has undermined democratic
institutions, decimated Venezuela’s economy, and triggered one of the worst
humanitarian crises in the Western Hemisphere. Maduro and his thugs have
arrested countless democratic leaders, human rights advocates, and journalists
which has further destabilized Latin America and poses a growing threat to
regional stability. Thankfully, the strong leadership demonstrated by you and
President Trump has been a much needed and deeply appreciated change from the
weak policies shown by the Biden administration. I ask that you continue these
efforts – we cannot let up now.
I encourage the Department of State
to continue using any and all appropriate measures to bring home those who
remain unjustly detained by Maduro’s criminal regime. Every American detained
abroad deserves the full support of their government, and we must act
decisively to ensure their safe return. At the same time, we must continue to
stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan people in their fight for liberty until
Maduro and his criminal enterprise are held fully accountable, and freedom and
democracy is finally restored to Venezuela.
Thank you again for your tireless
efforts.
###