A group of Florida lawmakers gathered for a major announcement in Washington after the United States government officially charged former Cuban President Raúl Castro with murder.
Congressman Byron Donalds and Senator Rick Scott, both representing Florida, led a joint press conference with other local leaders. The meeting followed a newly unsealed criminal indictment against Castro. The charges stem from a famous 1996 event where the Cuban military shot down two American planes. Three U.S. citizens and one U.S. national died in the attack.
The planes belonged to a group called Brothers to the Rescue. This group flew over the waters between Florida and Cuba to look for and help Cuban migrants who were stranded at sea.
During the press conference, Congressman Donalds praised President Donald Trump and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for moving forward with the criminal charges.
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Donalds spoke about what this decision means for the local community and the country. He noted that the communist government in Cuba has operated just 90 miles off the coast of Florida for more than 60 years.
“This is a day of justice for the Cuban people. This is a day of justice for Cuban-Americans in Florida and all across the United States of America,” Donalds said during his speech. “And finally today, thank you to President Trump and to the Acting Attorney General, Mr. Todd Blanche, for the swift decision to indict Raúl Castro for his crimes against America, against three Americans in particular.”
Donalds concluded his remarks by sharing his hopes for the final outcome of the legal case.
“So, this is a great day for the Cuban people, great day for the people of Florida, and a great day for the people of our country. We want to see justice done and justice will be done,” Donalds said.
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