Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar announced on Wednesday, May 20, that "today marks a historic day for the Cuban people" and signaled "the beginning of the end for the Castro family" during a press conference held at the Capitol in Washington D.C. Joining her were fellow congress members Carlos Giménez, Mario Díaz-Balart, and Nicole Malliotakis.
The event was sparked by the groundbreaking announcement of a federal criminal indictment against Raúl Castro, aged 94, for his involvement in the downing of two civilian aircraft belonging to the organization Brothers to the Rescue on February 24, 1996, which resulted in the death of four Cuban Americans.
A Message to the Castro Family
Standing on the podium, the Cuban American lawmakers displayed photos of the four victims with the caption "Murdered on February 24, 1996, by order of Raúl Castro," alongside signs with the slogans SOS Cuba and Free Cuba.
Salazar delivered a direct warning to the Castro family: "Understand clearly that your days are numbered. A federal indictment is a serious matter."
Comparisons to Nicolás Maduro
The congresswoman used the example of Nicolás Maduro—captured on January 3 in Caracas by U.S. forces and currently held in a federal prison in New York—as a stark warning: "Maduro thought President Trump was not serious. Look where Maduro is today, in a federal prison in New York."
She urged the Castros to step down before facing a similar fate: "It's time to leave. You have the chance to avoid ending up like Maduro. You can step away now and leave the island to the opposition forces, to freedom."
Gratitude and Future Vision
Salazar expressed her gratitude to President Trump for taking decisive action and described Cuba as "the epicenter of evil in this hemisphere," emphasizing that a friendly and prosperous Cuba would benefit U.S. economics, politics, and migration.
Evidence Against Raúl Castro
The key evidence in the case is an audio recording from June 1996, lasting 11 minutes and 32 seconds, published in 2006 by journalist Wilfredo Cancio in El Nuevo Herald, where Castro is heard saying: "I said try to bring them down over the territory, but they entered Havana and left... Well, bring them down over the sea when they appear."
Additionally, over 10,000 pages of declassified FBI documents uncover the existence of "Operation Venice," planned since February 13, 1996, indicating premeditation of the attack.
Calls for a New Cuba
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio released a video message to the Cuban people urging the construction of "a new Cuba" with free elections, economic freedoms, and independent media. He also reiterated the offer of $100 million in food and medicine, contingent on distribution by the Catholic Church or independent charitable organizations, not GAESA.
José Basulto, founder of Brothers to the Rescue and the sole survivor of the 1996 attack, responded emotionally: "I have longed for this for a long time. I have longed for justice to be served, for justice to become a reality."
Key Developments in the Indictment of Raúl Castro
What charges have been brought against Raúl Castro?
Raúl Castro has been indicted on federal criminal charges for his role in the downing of two civilian aircraft of Brothers to the Rescue on February 24, 1996, which resulted in the deaths of four Cuban Americans.
How did María Elvira Salazar react to the indictment?
María Elvira Salazar declared it a "historic day for the Cuban people" and stated that it marks "the beginning of the end for the Castro family," emphasizing the seriousness of a federal indictment.
What evidence supports the case against Castro?
A crucial piece of evidence is an audio recording from June 1996 in which Castro is heard ordering the aircraft to be brought down, as well as more than 10,000 pages of declassified FBI documents revealing a premeditated attack plan known as "Operation Venice."