U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today released a statement regarding the Maduro regime’s claim of victory in Venezuela’s presidential elections.
“I am concerned but not surprised that Nicolas Maduro is tightening his grip on Venezuela. To be sure, Maduro is reaping the benefits of three years of appeasement policies by the Biden-Harris Administration,” said Risch. “Since January 2021, the Biden-Harris Administration has eased every possible sanction on [the] Maduro regime, released corrupt associates of Maduro from U.S. prisons, failed to sanction a single individual tied to the regime, and failed to rally the European Union to increase pressure on Maduro.”
Risch continued, “The Biden-Harris Administration’s policies all but encouraged Maduro to steal this election, and he knows there will be no consequences.”
The senator proposed congressional action as a solution: “Congress can help correct this situation by swiftly acting on my Venezuela Democracy Act. President Biden should also use the last few months of his administration to seek the arrest and extradition of Nicolas Maduro and his drug trafficking associates, and swiftly reimpose all U.S. sanctions eased since November 2022.”
