Don't Ease Venezuela Sanctions, Republicans Tell Biden Administration
The U.S. shouldn’t ease oil sanctions and other trade restrictions against Venezuela, which would only benefit a “criminal network known for pretending to negotiate while extorting for sanctions relief,” Sen. James Risch, R-Idaho, and Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said last week. The two lawmakers said they are “deeply troubled” by reports that the Biden administration is considering lifting some sanctions to convince the Nicolas Maduro regime to allow free and fair presidential elections in 2024 (see 2210060014).
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"It is past time congressional leadership ensures U.S. policy in Venezuela is strictly tied to a demonstrable transition of power from the Maduro regime to a representative democracy in Venezuela,” said Risch and McCaul, the top Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations and the House Foreign Affairs committees, respectively. “Anything else will perpetuate Maduro’s stranglehold on Venezuela.”