Senator Urges Biden to Reimpose Venezuela Sanctions

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., is calling on the Biden administration to reimpose sanctions on Venezuela’s government for arresting political opposition leaders and blocking presidential candidate Maria Corina Machado from this year’s election.

“At the end of the day, [Venezuela's President Nicolas] Maduro failed to keep his promise to honor the legitimate candidacy of María Corina Machado and hold a free and fair election this year in Venezuela,” Scott said in an April 4 statement. “Now [President Joe] Biden must honor his word and reimpose sanctions on the murderous Maduro regime.”

The State Department said in January that it would be reversing sanctions relief it gave to Venezuela last year after finding the Maduro-led regime had failed to take steps to hold free and fair elections (see 2401300014). The reversal might include allowing the Treasury Department’s general license with Venezuela’s state-owned energy company to expire April 18 (see 2403290037).