Cruz, Scott, Cassidy Set $100 Million Reward for Arrest and Conviction of Nicolás Maduro Ahead of Venezuelan Inauguration

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joined Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in introducing the Securing Timely Opportunities for Payment and Maximizing Awards for Detaining Unlawful Regime Officials (STOP MADURO) Act. This bill would increase the maximum reward amount from $15 million to $100 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Nicolás Maduro.

Upon introduction, Sen. Cruz said, “Nicolás Maduro is a corrupt dictator and thug. The STOP MADURO Act helps badly needed efforts to hold him and his regime accountable. I’m proud to cosponsor this effort, and will continue to work with the incoming Trump administration and my colleagues in Congress on these issues.”

Sen. Scott said, “The Venezuelan people have made it overwhelmingly clear that President-elect Edmundo González is their rightful leader in an effort led by opposition leader María Corina Machado. They want a new day of freedom and democracy – the time of Maduro’s oppressive dictatorship is OVER. In support of the people of Venezuela, the United States must stand strongly against any attempt by Maduro to illegitimately cling to power through violence or repression, and make way for President-elect González to bring democracy, freedom and opportunity back to Venezuela. My bill, the STOP MADURO Act, will increase the maximum reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Maduro to $100 million, using seized assets instead of U.S. taxpayer money to bring an end to the tyranny caused by this narcoterrorist. In 2020, the Trump administration did the right thing by offering a reward of up to $15 million, but it’s time to up the ante and get this good bill passed ASAP.”

Sen. Cassidy said, “The people of Venezuela rightfully elected President-Elect Edmundo Gonzalez. His recognition as president is a contrast between a representative democracy and a dictatorship which aligns itself with narco-terrorists, Iran, Russia, and China. Only the Venezuelan people can seize this power back, but the U.S. should do everything we can to support this effort.”

Read the full text of the bill here.

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