US congressmen and Venezuelan exiles deplore Alex Saab’s release and warn of future effects

Republican congressmen for Florida and exiled Venezuelan leaders this Wednesday repudiated the release of the Colombian businessman Alex Saabclose collaborator of the president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduroand that he was detained in a prison in Miami since 2021 accused of money laundering.

Florida Senator Marco Rubio described as “shame” the release of Saab, who was facing federal charges for allegedly laundering up to 350 million defrauded dollars through the Venezuelan exchange control system, and warned of the risk of “call effect”To other dictators.

LOOK HERE: Who is Alex Saab, Maduro’s supposed figurehead who went from a prison in the US to a “hero” in Venezuela

“Saab is the architect of Maduro’s corruption and money laundering operationa scheme that deprived the people of Venezuela. Unfortunately, this exchange only encourages dictators to kidnap more Americans.“, said the Republican senator in a statement.

The senator said that in addition to Saab’s release, the recent lifting by the US of sanctions against Venezuela, as a result of the Barbados between the Venezuelan Government and that country’s opposition, as well as the release in 2022 of Maduro’s nephews in exchange for seven American prisoners.

“An approach that consists solely of granting concessions to a narco-dictator, whose only aspiration is to maintain his illegal grip on power, is doomed to failure and weakens US foreign policy.“, added the senator.

Senior officials of the The White House This Wednesday they confirmed to journalists the release of Saab, which is already in Caracasas part of an agreement between the US and Venezuela, whereby the Maduro government, in turn, releases ten US citizens and twenty Venezuelan prisoners.

MORE INFORMATION: Biden promises that he will continue to monitor whether Maduro follows the electoral route in Venezuela

Venezuela agrees to extradite that country’s military contractor to the United States Leonardo Franciscoknown as ‘fat Leonardo‘, allegedly responsible for one of the biggest corruption scandals in the US Army.

“Today we see the latest demonstration of the Biden Administration’s policy of appeasement towards Maduro’s anti-American and drug trafficking regime. Outrageous and dangerous, but not surprising“, said the Florida congressman. Mário Diaz-Balart in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

In turn, the Florida legislator Carlos Giménez participated in a press conference organized by the organization Independent American Venezuelan Citizens (IVAC), in which he denounced “the pathetic release of the criminal comrade from Nicolás MaduroAlex Saab”.

“Saab’s release puts at risk the safety of any American who might be kidnapped by an enemy regime in exchange for concessions“, added the former county mayor. Miami-Dadewhich brings together one of the largest populations of Venezuelans in the USA.

The organization Venezuelans persecuted politicians in exile (VEPPEX) in turn called “disastrous”the decision of the Administration of the President of the United States, the Democrat Joe Bidento free Saab.

“The Nicolás Maduro regime emerged very strengthened by the decisions taken by the USA and generates very negative expectations in the Venezuelan community.“he noted in a statement José Antonio Colinapresident of this Miami-based organization.

SEE TOO: Venezuela releases 21 “political prisoners” as part of a humanitarian exchange with the United States.

The legislator joined the chorus of criticism Maria Elvira Salazaralso a Republican and representative of a congressional district in South Florida, and who described “new victory for the Maduro regime”the launch of Saab.

The lawmaker stressed that the American hostages “you are welcome home”, but questioned that the Maduro Government has not shown openness to immediately resolve issues related to the presidential elections in Venezuela.

“When (the opposition leader) Maria Corina Machado Can she run for president without being persecuted?,” he asked in an X post.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.