Ocasio Cortez and other Democratic legislators criticize US sanctions against Maduro

A group of 16 Democratic lawmakers including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez sent Thursday a letter to the head of diplomacy Mike Pompeo criticizing the US strategy in the crisis in Venezuela, especially the sanctions imposed by the government of Donald Trump.

“We write to express our deepest concern about the way in which the Trump government is managing relations with Venezuela, especially the insinuations of a military intervention, the imposition of broad unilateral sanctions and the recent recognition of the opposition leader,” indicated the legislators in the letter.

According to congressmen, the recent sanctions could “exacerbate the serious economic crisis that the country suffers, causing immense suffering to the most vulnerable who have no responsibility .

The United States is one of the main supporters of the interim president Juan Guaidó, who has been recognized by more than 50 countries in his fight against Nicolás Maduro, reelected in questioned elections last year.

The group of legislators stressed that they strongly condemn the actions of the Maduro government, citing the repression of civil society, the failed economic policy, the killing of unarmed demonstrators and the irregularities in the elections, in addition to the blockade of humanitarian aid.

Since 2015, Washington has sanctioned dozens of Venezuelan officials and former officials, including Maduro himself, accusing them of violations of human rights, corruption and drug trafficking. In addition, the Trump administration applied an embargo on Venezuela’s oil, crucial for its economy, which will begin to take effect on April 28.

“The United States is alone in its decision to impose economic sanctions against the government of Venezuela, which, as they have been implemented, are harming the civilian population,” said lawmakers who warned that this policy may be “counterproductive” and be used at the service of the “government narrative” of Venezuela.

The letter was signed by Pramila Jayapal, Mark Pocan, Raul Grijalva, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Adriano Espaillat, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, Nydia M. Velázquez, José E. Serrano, Tulsi Gabbard, Karen Bass, Danny K. Davis, Jan Schakowsky and Ro Khanna.