This upcoming Sunday, the people of Venezuela will hold an election that, if legitimate, would put an end to years of the oppressive Maduro narco-regime. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued a statement in support of the Venezuelan people: “The...
News
Latest News
Rubio: “La Tenacidad y Valentía del Pueblo venezolano Estarán a la Vista”
Este próximo domingo, el pueblo venezolano tendrá una elección que, de ser legítima, pondría fin a años de opresión por parte del narco-régimen de Maduro. El senador estadounidense Marco Rubio (R-FL) grabó un mensaje de video en español y emitió una declaración en...
Rubio, Scott, Colleagues to Biden Admin: No Privileges Should Be Given to 9/11 Terrorist
Twenty-three years ago, the United States was attacked by Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001. Now, Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person convicted in a U.S. court for his role in the attack, has requested the U.S. Department of Justice to allow a prisoner transfer...
Next Week: Rubio Staff Hosts Mobile Office Hours
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host virtual Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of Senator Rubio’s...
Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Ensuring Continuity in Veterans’ Health Act
As the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) opens up new facilities, many veterans are losing access to the VA’s Community Care Program and, consequently, their long-term healthcare providers. Veterans throughout the country have reported a loss of care, including...
Rubio Introduces Bill to Strengthen U.S.-India Security Partnership
The U.S.-India partnership is vital to countering influences from Communist China. In order to strengthen this partnership, it is essential to enhance our strategic diplomatic, economic, and military relationship with New Delhi. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)...
Rubio Calls For Sanctions Against Corrupt Former Head Of Venezuela’s State-Owned Oil Company
Miami, FL – U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) today urged the Obama Administration to sanction Venezuelan government official Rafael Ramirez for corruption during his tenure as head of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA). According to Reuters, a new report by a Venezuelan congressional commission says approximately $11 billion went missing at the state-run oil company between 2004 and 2014 under Ramirez.
Specifically, Rubio is calling on the administration to sanction Ramirez under Executive Order 13692, which implements the Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act of 2014, and targets public corruption by senior government officials and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, Venezuela’s government. Ramirez currently serves as Venezuela’s envoy to the United Nations.
“Venezuela is blessed with abundant natural resources and a talented population, which should make it the crown jewel of economic prosperity and opportunity in the Western Hemisphere,” said Rubio. “Instead, corruption, criminality and human rights abuses at the highest levels of Venezuela’s government have tragically brought the country to the brink of becoming a failed state. Venezuela suffers from self-inflicted shortages of food, medicine and basic necessities, but there is no shortage of images coming out of the country each day showing how dire things have become there, with the most heartbreaking being the recent photos of newborn babies being placed in cardboard boxes because Venezuelan hospitals can’t afford cribs.
“Rafael Ramirez oversaw corruption at PDVSA to the tune of $11 billion, which is not just criminal; it’s downright cruel and inhumane when you consider the daily challenges confronting the Venezuelan people,” Rubio continued. “Mr. Ramirez belongs in jail along with everyone else who stole this $11 billion, and it’s an outrage that he can instead be seen gallivanting today around Manhattan, living the high life as Venezuela’s United Nations envoy.
“I urge U.S. government agencies, including the Departments of Justice, Treasury and State, to coordinate on any ongoing investigations into corrupt officials of the Venezuelan regime,” added Rubio. “The Obama Administration should sanction Rafael Ramirez and send a strong message that the U.S. will stand with the Venezuelan people against those who commit human rights abuses and plunder that nation’s vast wealth.”
According to the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor’s 2015 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and others reported “corruption at all levels of government” in Venezuela.