Hagerty, Risch, Colleagues Statement on Maduro Regime Moving Towards More Brutal Dictatorship

December 8, 2023

NASHVILLE, TN—United States Senators Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jim Risch (R-ID), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Tim Scott (R-SC), Rick Scott (R-FL), and Joe Manchin (D-WV) today released the following statement on the Maduro regime’s arrest warrants for members of an opposition party:

“We are extremely concerned over recent arrest warrants issued by the Maduro regime against members of Maria Corina Machado’s political party and coalition. This brazen act is a clear indication that the Maduro regime is not following through on its commitment to free and fair elections in 2024.

“The blatant refusal to release political prisoners or American hostages, the continued arrest warrants against other key opposition leaders, and the petulant saber rattling against Guyana show that the Maduro regime is moving towards an even more brutal dictatorship. The United States and our democratic partners should respond accordingly using all diplomatic tools, including enforcing Maduro’s indictment for involvement in narco-trafficking and snap back of all sanctions relief given since November 2022.”

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