White House hangs up on Sen. Scott when he called to discuss Cuban regime's imprisonment of famed dissident

Florida Sen. Rick Scott took to Twitter to report that the White House hung up on him when he called to discuss the precarious situation of Cuban political prisoner José Daniel Ferrer.

“The White House just hung up on me when I called to talk to someone about the horrific torture and abuse José Daniel Ferrer is experiencing as a prisoner of the illegitimate communist Cuban regime. This isn’t just weakness, it’s shameful cowardice. I won’t tolerate it,” the Republican senator tweeted on Wednesday.

The @WhiteHouse just hung up on me when I called to talk to someone about the horrific torture & abuse @jdanielferrer is experiencing as a prisoner of the illegitimate communist Cuban regime.

This isn’t just weakness, it’s shameful cowardice. I won’t tolerate it. #SOSCuba

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 15, 2021

Last week, Scott demanded that President Joe Biden take action against the Cuban dictatorship, who arrested Ferrer – the leader of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (Unpacu) – after he attempted to join a peaceful protest in Santiago de Cuba on July 11.

In a tweet, Scott said, “The regime of  @DiazCanelB  &  @raulcastro_ruz  is brutally torturing  @jdanielferrer  in an attempt to end his life.  @POTUS  must condemn the torture of Jose Daniel and demand  @UN  humanitarian medical visit to Jose Daniel Ferrer IMMEDIATELY.”

#SOSCuba
El régimen de @DiazCanelB y @raulcastro_ruz está torturando brutalmente a @jdanielferrer en un intento por acabar con su vida. @POTUS debe condenar la tortura a José Daniel y exigir a la @ONU_es una visita médica humanitaria para José Daniel Ferrer INMEDIATAMENTE.

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 7, 2021

During a recent prison visit, Ferrer told his family that he feared he might not survive his imprisonment as his health has rapidly deteriorated and he continues to suffer torture at Mar Verde prison.

"The physical and psychological tortures are increasing and he does not know how much longer his body can resist,” his exiled sister, Ana Belkis Ferrer, said after speaking with Ferrer’s wife, Nelva Ortega.

On Dec. 10, the day World Human Rights Day is observed, the Cuban dissident placed a call to Unpauc colleagues – but the line was disconnected after five minutes after Ferrer allegedly said “Down with Raul and down with Canel.”

"Give a hug to the family and all my brothers in the struggle. Logically, I’m worried about what may be happening with my son José Daniel Ferrer Cantillo,” he is heard saying in a recording released by Unpacu.

"They want to continue violating human rights in the 21st century. We dignified Cubans must continue to sacrifice ourselves – giving all of our efforts – and our lives if necessarily – in order to end the misery and oppression,” he continued.

Ferrer also noted that he continues to suffer from headaches and a "buzzing sound" in his ears.