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U.S. representatives criticize Biden's Venezuela sanctions 'relief'

"Biden surrenders to Latin American dictators," said U.S. Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar

By John Palomino

May 17, 2022 2:53pm

Updated: May 18, 2022 8:48am

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, among other politicians, criticized on Tuesday the easing of economic sanctions on Venezuela by President Joe Biden's administration.

The U.S. government announced that it would allow oil company Chevron to negotiate with Venezuelan state-owned PDVSA, as long as it doesn't drill or export Venezuelan-origin oil. The move is aimed at encouraging the resumption of negotiations between the Washington-backed opposition and the Nicolas Maduro regime, two senior officials told The Associated Press.

Sen. Rubio rejected the measure on his social media and claimed that "Biden continues his effort to appease anti-American communist dictators."

"Yesterday it was Cuba, now today Biden will announce removing sanctions on the Maduro regime in Venezuela," he added.

Rep. Salazar warned that "Biden has officially surrendered to the dictators of Latin America" to buy "blood-stained oil."

U.S. Republican Sen. Rick Scott, also from Florida, condemned the move. "Joe Biden's decision to ease sanctions against Nicolás Maduro and his evil thugs is UNCONSCIONABLE." 

"Biden should focus on ending Maduro’s regime, protecting human rights, and helping the Venezuela people achieve their freedom and democracy, not on appeasing brutal dictators," he continued.

U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez stated that "Biden is the worst thing to have ever happened to freedom and democracy in Latin America."

Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, said he was "appalled that the Biden Administration is now doing everything it can to help Maduro and his cronies."

Among the new measures, the administration also announced that Carlos Erik Malpica-Flores, a former high-ranking PDVSA official and nephew of Maduro's wife, will be removed from a list of individuals sanctioned by the US.

On May 12, 18 Democrats in Congress sent a letter to President Biden asking to lift all sanctions against Venezuela because they "exacerbate the humanitarian crisis.”

Dozens of Venezuelans, including the country's attorney general and the head of the penitentiary system, and more than 140 entities, including the Central Bank of Venezuela, will continue to be sanctioned. In addition, the Treasury Department will continue to prohibit transactions with the Venezuelan government and PDVSA within U.S. financial markets, reported the AP.

Maduro is under indictment for conspiring to "flood the United States with cocaine" and use drug trafficking as a "weapon" against the country.

Venezuela's regime suspended talks with the opposition in October following the extradition to the United States of businessman Alex Saab on money laundering charges. Maduro's alleged front man was extradited from Cape Verde.

The negotiations were held in Mexico City under the direction of Norwegian diplomats. The opposition and the Venezuelan government were expected to announce their resumption on Tuesday.

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