WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott and Senator Ashley Moody sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio applauding continued efforts of his actions with President Trump to hold the Venezuelan regime accountable as they work to bring freedom and democracy to Venezuela, including the recent actions to secure the release of seven Americans wrongfully imprisoned by the brutal Maduro regime. 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.

This follows Senator Scott’s BOLIVAR Act and recent letter thanking President Trump for standing up for freedom and democracy in Latin America.

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.

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