WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Rick Scott released the following statement as Nicolás Maduro continues to hold Americans hostage and deprive the people of Venezuela of freedom and democracy as he prevents their rightful leader President-Elect González from being sworn in.

Senator Rick Scott said, “The Venezuelan people elected Edmundo González  as their rightful president, but Nicolás Maduro is desperate and using any means necessary to hold power over a people who don’t want him. I’m extremely concerned that this murderous dictator has arrested and held individuals hostage from America, Ecuador, Spain, Argentina and several other nations. Maduro will use these lives as another bargaining chip and scare tactic for the people of Venezuela and the United States – just as he has by threatening María Corina Machado and kidnapping family members of President-Elect González. I’ve reached out to the Secretary of State to make it extremely clear that the United States must protect American lives and stand for freedom and democracy in Venezuela. The United States will NOT stand down or take threats from a murderous dictator lightly.”