Attorney Nick Gutiérrez sparked a wave of speculation on CiberCuba this Friday with a startling theory. In an interview with Tania Costa, he suggested the possibility that the Trump administration might move to arrest Raúl Castro today, specifically after the stock market closes, to avoid triggering volatility on Wall Street.
Gutiérrez's remarks come less than 48 hours after the U.S. Department of Justice formally charged Raúl Castro, including an arrest warrant, for his involvement in the downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes on February 24, 1996, resulting in the deaths of four Cuban-Americans.
"Some say, and perhaps I'm mistaken, that after the market closes on Friday, the Americans could act to arrest Raúl. They don't want to impact the Stock Exchange. So, I would wait until Friday afternoon. It's a theory. I don't know if it's true, but I hope it's true," Gutiérrez stated.
The attorney emphasized that this is merely personal speculation, rather than confirmed information, but he based it on tangible precedents.
Precedents and Speculation
"Executing the arrest warrant (against Raúl Castro) is possible even when fugitives are outside U.S. jurisdiction. It was done in '89 against Manuel Noriega in Panama. It was done on January 3 of this year against Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela," he explained.
Gutiérrez noted that there was widespread skepticism the day before Nicolás Maduro's capture about whether the U.S. would take action, and events proved otherwise.
He stressed that regardless of whether the action occurs, the regime is already under unprecedented psychological pressure.
"And even if it's false, Raúl Castro doesn't know if it's true or not, and the regime will be quite nervous until this matter is resolved," he pointed out.
Unprecedented Legal Actions
Gutiérrez also highlighted the historical significance of the formal indictment, which no previous administration had accomplished. "There's a written, signed, and official legal indictment. That's a huge step that neither the Clinton nor Bush nor Obama administrations took. And until now, it hadn't been done. That's enormous in itself."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio had already labeled Raúl Castro a "fugitive from American justice" following the formal charge, a characterization publicly supported by attorney Willie Allen.
Trump Administration’s Bold Moves
Gutiérrez framed this within a broader pattern of action by the Trump administration, citing the implementation of Title 3 of the Helms-Burton Act and pressure on the Iranian regime.
"This administration has acted much more boldly than others," he asserted, quoting Congressman Carlos Jiménez, who encapsulated the moment with a straightforward phrase: "There's a new sheriff in town."
Meanwhile, the Cuban regime has threatened "fierce resistance" to any actions against individuals on the island, with state television branding the indictment a "scoundrel accusation" and a "political provocation."
"Nobody knows how Trump operates or what he'll say next. Nobody knows that less than him, because it's taken us 30 years to get here," Gutiérrez concluded, leaving the possibility open of what might unfold before the day's end.
Key Questions on Raúl Castro's Potential Arrest
Why might Raúl Castro be arrested after the stock market closes?
Attorney Nick Gutiérrez speculates that an arrest could occur after the stock market closes to prevent causing market volatility.
What are the charges against Raúl Castro?
The U.S. Department of Justice has charged Raúl Castro with his role in the downing of the Brothers to the Rescue planes in 1996, which killed four Cuban-Americans.
How does this situation compare to past U.S. actions?
Gutiérrez compares it to actions taken against Manuel Noriega in Panama and Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, where the U.S. acted against fugitives outside its jurisdiction.