Overview
- At a Seattle briefing this week, Rep. Pramila Jayapal said she spoke with Mexico’s ambassador and others to explore getting oil to Cuba and called U.S. sanctions an “economic bombing” that violates international law.
- Republican figures including Sen. Rick Scott, Sen. Mike Lee, Sen. Ted Cruz and Florida Sen. Ashley Moody accused her of aiding an adversary and floated possible violations such as the Logan Act or even treason.
- Legal context from reporting and experts notes there is no announced investigation or charges and says a case would require proof she helped break sanctions, with the Logan Act having never produced a conviction.
- Policy backdrop shifted May 1 when the White House issued a broader order that widened penalties on foreign banks and firms dealing with Cuba after a January order threatened tariffs on countries that supply its fuel.
- Cuba’s fuel crunch has deepened as Venezuelan shipments stopped and, by Jayapal’s account, only one Russian tanker has arrived since January with about 10 to 14 days of supply while Moscow has signaled another shipment.