Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds and U.S. Senator Rick Scott praised a federal indictment against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, calling it a historic moment for Cuban Americans and the people of Cuba.
The Trump administration indicted Castro on charges of conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, two counts of destruction of aircraft, and four counts of murder. The criminal charges tie back to an event on February 24, 1996, when two unarmed U.S. civilian aircraft were shot down over international waters. The planes were operated by “Brothers to the Rescue,” also known as Hermanos al Rescate, a Florida-based group that flew search-and-rescue missions to help Cuban refugees escaping the island. Four people died in the attack.
Donalds spoke out about the charges from Naples, Florida, giving credit to President Donald Trump and Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche for moving forward with the case.
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“This is a day of justice for the Cuban people, a day of justice for Cuban Americans in Florida, and all across the United States of America,” Donalds said. He added that “Raul Castro gave the order to shoot them down, to shoot them out of the sky. Well, today there will be justice done here in America.”
The congressman said he wants the trial to take place in Florida so Castro can “face a jury of his peers in the nation that stands for freedom and liberty and opportunity, not dictatorship, not despotism, and not communism.”
Senator Rick Scott joined Donalds at the press conference, focusing on the broader impact the Cuban government has on the region.
“All the problems we have in Latin America start with the Cuban regime. I want to thank the President. I want to thank Secretary Rubio for doing this. I want to thank them for the sanctions they put on… and now what they are doing here to make sure we starve the regime of resources, and we sanction them for the despicable acts they take… The path we’re going down has the opportunity for success, the opportunity for the people of Cuba finally, after decades, to pick their own future. [The United States] has been the beacon of hope for Latin America,” Senator Scott said.
Donalds also shared his thoughts on what should happen next in Cuba, stating that the current government needs to be replaced entirely.
“First and foremost, the regime has to end,” Donalds said. He explained that Florida’s ports, airports, and businesses should help rebuild and reopen Cuba once it becomes a free society. However, he drew a strict boundary for the state, saying, “Florida will fully cooperate with a free Cuba. Florida will not cooperate with a new dictatorship.”
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The speech turned political when Donalds criticized Democratic lawmakers who are currently backing a War Powers resolution. Donalds believes this resolution will block U.S. efforts to put pressure on the Cuban government.
“You have Democrat senators who want to stop the United States government and stop President Trump from doing what he can to help free Cuba from more than 60 years of totalitarianism and dictatorship, but then the same Democrats will come here and lecture everybody in America they’re the only ones that stand for freedom, that stand for democracy? Give me a break. They’re lying,” Donalds said.
He ended his remarks by accusing his political opponents of ignoring the struggles of everyday people living under strict regimes.
“That war powers resolution is indicative of the fact that the Democrats will tolerate totalitarianism on their watch,” Donalds said. “They will watch people starve. They will watch people be oppressed and they won’t lift a finger, but they’ll go to their cocktail party and talk about how they stand for freedom and liberty and democracy. Give me a break.”
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