Republican Lawmakers Call for More Nicaragua Sanctions

The U.S. should impose more sanctions against the Daniel Ortega regime in Nicaragua in response to the country’s “illegitimate” presidential election this week, several House Republicans said. The lawmakers -- including Reps. Michael McCaul of Texas, Mark Green of Tennessee, August Pfluger of Texas and Maria Salazar of Florida -- said Ortega’s continued control over the government has led to unlawful jailings and the silencing of opposing voices. “We urge the Biden Administration to rally our like-minded allies and partners and implement further targeted sanctions on regime officials and entities propping up” the regime, they said Nov. 8. A State Department spokesperson said last week the agency will “continue to use the diplomatic and economic tools at our disposal to support Nicaraguans’ call for greater freedom as well as their accountability and free and fair elections.” A bipartisan group of senators last month also urged the administration to issue more sanctions (see 2110040002).