WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, after President Biden made comments that he supports a new election in Venezuela, Senator Rick Scott sent a letter to President Biden requesting the Biden-Harris administration to put the full weight of the federal government behind the Venezuelan people’s fight for democracy and to stand with opposition leader María Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia as president-elect. Senator Scott is also requesting the administration take action to reimpose sanctions if Maduro is to remain in power and send a strong message to show America’s solidarity with the Venezuelan people in their fight for free and fair elections.

Read the full letter HERE or below.

August 16, 2024

Dear President Biden:

On Saturday, the Venezuelan people will rally in the streets of their country for freedom and democracy while the murderous dictator, Nicolás Maduro, continues his corrupt attempt to maintain power and steal an election he clearly lost. For months, I have urged you and Vice President Kamala Harris to put the full weight of the federal government behind the Venezuelan people’s fight for democracy through free and fair elections, and at every turn the Biden-Harris administration has chosen to stand with Maduro by easing sanctions and failing to recognize Edmundo González Urrutia as the president-elect.

Just yesterday, Reuters reported that you are supporting the calls from Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva for Maduro to hold a new election. That is a slap in the face to the Venezuelan people and undermines the result of the July 28 vote and their fight for freedom. The election on July 28 resulted in a clear winner - Edmundo González Urrutia. The United States must stand with the Venezuelan people and show with words and actions that the coward Maduro regime cannot stop this movement for freedom and democracy, which has the full will of the people behind it.

I have been in regular communication with María Corina Machado, who is being threatened every day by Maduro and his thugs, as she rallies support for Edmundo González and the overwhelming majority of Venezuelans who voted for him to lead their country. In our most recent conversations, María Corina Machado made clear what the United States must do to support this cause:

1. Immediately recognize Edmundo González Urrutia as president-elect and respect the vote and the will of the people on July 28 election.
2. Demand that Maduro immediately begin working toward an orderly and organized transition of power to President-elect Edmundo González Urrutia, who won the election in a landslide on July 28, under the guidance of legitimate opposition leader María Corina Machado.
3. Rally the freedom-loving nations of the world, and institutions like the Organization of American States, the European Union, and others to demand that the transition team includes representatives that will respect and carry out the will of the Venezuelan people.

Additionally, I again implore you to order your administration to finally take these three actions:

1. Commit that no U.S. funds or assistance will go to Maduro, while reimposing sanctions on him and the military thugs protecting him.
2.  Impose sanctions on countries that provide assistance to Maduro’s crippling dictatorship.
3. Call for the immediate end of repression of the Venezuelan people and make a statement about that every day.

We know that Edmundo González won this election. If the United States is going to lead the world in supporting democracy in Venezuela, he must be immediately recognized as president-elect by the Biden-Harris administration through words and actions which show that the United States stands in total solidarity with the Venezuelan people and is willing to use the power of our government to punish the Maduro regime for its horrific oppression and illegitimate attempts to steal an election.

Sincerely,

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