Boise City Wire

BOISE, Idaho – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released a statement regarding the Biden-Harris Administration’s policy on Venezuela over the past four years.

“The current predicament in Venezuela is no surprise to anyone who has paid attention. The Biden-Harris Administration has squandered the position of strength it inherited from President Trump’s strategic use of maximum and multilateral pressure on the Maduro regime. The incoherent and blatantly flawed efforts of the current administration have strengthened the Maduro regime and its criminal network, exacerbated the already horrific humanitarian crisis, and allowed malign actors like China, Russia, and Iran to continue intervening in our hemisphere, putting American lives at risk."

“In September 2021, I warned that the Biden-Harris Administration needed to assert U.S. leadership in Venezuela and that any process that kept the Maduro regime intact would exacerbate intolerable security threats to the United States and the Western Hemisphere. Tragically, President Biden and Vice President Harris chose to ignore those warnings for far too long.”

“In contrast, my bill, the Venezuelan Democracy Act, would condition U.S. sanctions on Venezuela based on specific democratic progress, ensuring that any removal of U.S. sanctions on the Maduro regime must be preceded by a standards-based transition to democratic order. The Venezuelan people have been loud and clear in their calls for democracy, and the Biden-Harris Administration has failed them time and time again.”

Over the last four years, Risch asserts that:

- The interim government of Juan Guaido was undermined by the administration leading to its demise in January 2023 without supporting a workable alternative.

- Law enforcement efforts were weakened by not enforcing indictments against Maduro and associates; releasing convicted individuals including Maduro’s nephews; freeing Alex Saab.

- There was failure to hold Maduro accountable for enabling mass illegal migration with close to a million crossings since 2021.

- Accountability was lacking for illicit drug trafficking linked to cocaine deaths.

- A strong condemnation was not offered when Maduro retained power after sham elections.

The statement also highlights eased sanctions:

- Removal of sanctions on individuals tied to Maduro’s regime.

- Easing oil sanctions while bilateral agreements with Iran, Russia, and China were signed.

- Lifting sweeping sanctions following partnerships with China.

- Removal of trading bans on sovereign bonds.

- Easing sanctions on Conviasa airline.

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