Future Retirement Success
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Investing
  • Stocks

Future Retirement Success

Politics

Former US ambassador called Castro the ‘Comandante,’ labeled US ‘the enemy’: DOJ

by December 5, 2023
December 5, 2023
Former US ambassador called Castro the ‘Comandante,’ labeled US ‘the enemy’: DOJ

A former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia is accused of calling Cuban dictator Fidel Castro ‘Comandante’ and describing the United States as the ‘enemy,’ according to an unsealed criminal complaint Monday. 

At the top of a meeting of the DOJ’s Reproductive Rights Task Force, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland first announced a ‘significant national security related enforcement action’ the Justice Department has taken in charging Victor Manuel Rocha, 73, with ‘illegally acting as an agent of a foreign government.’ 

Rocha, who is from Miami, Florida, is a former U.S. Department of State employee who served on the National Security Council from 1994 to 1995 and ultimately as U.S. Ambassador to Bolivia from 2000 to 2002. 

His service also included deputy principal officer at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana, Cuba, Garland said. 

After leaving the State Department, Rocha served as adviser to the commander of the U.S. Southern Command, a joint command of the United States military whose area of responsibility includes Cuba, from about 2006 to 2012. 

‘This action exposes one of the highest reaching and longest lasting infiltrations of U.S. government by a foreign agent,’ Garland said. ‘Specifically, the criminal complaint alleges that for over 40 years, Rocha acted as a covert agent of the Cuban government. That, and the complaint alleges, Rocha sought out employment with U.S. government that would provide him with access to nonpublic information and the ability to affect U.S. foreign policy.’ 

The complaint outlines actions Rocha took allegedly ‘in support Cuba’s clandestine intelligence gathering mission against the United States.’  

Rocha repeatedly referred to the United States as ‘the enemy’ during discussions with an undercover FBI agent, the complaint says. 

He also allegedly told the undercover agent that his efforts to infiltrate the United States government were ‘meticulous and very disciplined’ and he repeatedly bragged about the significance of his efforts, saying that ‘what has been done has strengthened the revolution immensely,’ Garland said. 

When the undercover agent told Rocha he was ‘a covert representative here in Miami’ whose mission was ‘to contact you, introduce myself as your new contact, and establish a new communication plan,’ Rocha answered, ‘Yes,’ and proceeded to engage in a lengthy conversation during which he described and celebrated his activity as a Cuban intelligence agent, according to the complaint. Throughout the meetings, Rocha behaved as a Cuban agent and used the term ‘we’ to describe himself and Cuba, prosecutors say. 

Rocha additionally praised Fidel Castro as the ‘Comandante,’ and referred to his contacts in Cuban intelligence as his ‘Compañeros’ (comrades) and to the Cuban intelligence services as the ‘Dirección,’ the complaint says. Rocha allegedly also described his work as a Cuban agent as ‘a grand slam.’

The FBI arrested Rocha on Friday in Miami and he will make his first court appearance in the Southern District of Florida on Monday afternoon, Garland said. 

‘Those who have the privilege of serving in the government of the United States are given an enormous amount of trust by the public we serve,’ Garland said Monday. ‘To betray that trust, by falsely pledging loyalty to the United States while serving a foreign power is a crime that will be met with the full force of the Justice Department. 

As the only Cuban-born member of Congress, Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., reacted Sunday to reports of Rochas’ arrest for allegedly spying for Cuba, calling for the ‘immediate implementation of sanctions against the Castro regime’ and a full investigation. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS
0
FacebookTwitterGoogle +Pinterest
previous post
French minister warns country ‘durably under threat from Islamist terrorism’ after Paris stabbing suspect ID’d
next post
House GOP campaign arm slams Democrats in new AI-generated ad turning national parks into migrant tent cities

You may also like

Dem rising star eyes Vance as key long-term...

April 16, 2025

UN halts food distribution from US-built Gaza pier...

June 10, 2024

Harris was ‘reluctant’ to choose Shapiro because of...

August 7, 2024

Trump pledges to release files on JFK, MLK...

January 20, 2025

Harris says Trump’s rifle comments about Liz Cheney...

November 1, 2024

Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott Wins Reelection, Sends...

November 9, 2022

Opinion: Look to outer space for Trump’s Greenland...

February 6, 2025

House passes new rules for Congress as McCarthy...

January 10, 2023

Pelosi calls Republicans’ attitude toward McCarthy’s speakership ‘frivolous,...

January 5, 2023

Senator’s fundraising skill could be winning ticket for...

May 9, 2024

    Get free access to all of the retirement secrets and income strategies from our experts! or Join The Exclusive Subscription Today And Get the Premium Articles Acess for Free

    By opting in you agree to receive emails from us and our affiliates. Your information is secure and your privacy is protected.

    Recent Posts

    • Rand Paul says he would support ‘big, beautiful bill’ if debt ceiling hike removed

      June 1, 2025
    • Kevin Hassett ‘very, very confident’ courts will back Trump’s tariffs amid legal setback

      June 1, 2025
    • Senate Republicans eye changes to Trump’s megabill after House win

      June 1, 2025
    • Trump shares post saying Biden was executed, replaced with clones

      June 1, 2025
    • House Dems’ campaign chair says her party’s ‘on offense’ in 2026 battle to win back majority from GOP

      June 1, 2025
    • Trump warns Rand Paul he’s playing into ‘hands of the Democrats’ with ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ opposition

      June 1, 2025

    Categories

    • Business (8,105)
    • Investing (2,000)
    • Politics (15,458)
    • Stocks (3,119)
    • About us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    Disclaimer: futureretirementsuccess.com, its managers, its employees, and assigns (collectively “The Company”) do not make any guarantee or warranty about what is advertised above. Information provided by this website is for research purposes only and should not be considered as personalized financial advice. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendation. Any investments recommended here should be taken into consideration only after consulting with your investment advisor and after reviewing the prospectus or financial statements of the company.

    Copyright © 2025 futureretirementsuccess.com | All Rights Reserved