Trump Tightens Pressure on Cuba as U.S. Pushes for Charges Against Leaders

The New York Times reports that the U.S. attorney in South Florida has ordered a broad-ranging inquiry into Cuba’s leaders and Communist Party officials.

“War in theMiddle East Advertisement Supported by The order could set the stage for a drive for regime change in Cuba, a goal President Trump has expressed”

New York Times

The inquiry targets drug, immigration, economic and violent crimes and aims to bring fast indictments, according to three people with knowledge of his actions.

New York Times

The paper says the order could set the stage for a drive for regime change in Cuba, a goal President Trump has expressed.

President Trump has ratcheted up his rhetorical assault on Cuba, including recently suggesting that he might attack the island nation 90 miles off the Florida coast after he is finished with the Iran war.

The article reports that Mr. Trump has pushed Cuba's economy toward collapse by cutting off oil imports.

New York Times

He forced Venezuela to stop shipping oil after the United States captured its leader, Nicolás Maduro, in early January.

He then issued an executive order threatening tariffs on any nation that supplied oil to Cuba, which led Mexico, Cuba's last significant oil supplier, to halt shipments.

The piece also says Mr. Trump has spoken openly about his desire for the United States to have a 'friendly takeover' of Cuba.

The Times frames bringing criminal cases against Cuban leaders as potentially providing a legal and political rationale for more aggressive action.

“War in theMiddle East Advertisement Supported by The order could set the stage for a drive for regime change in Cuba, a goal President Trump has expressed”

New York Times

It notes a parallel to the Justice Department’s indictment against Mr. Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores being used to justify his capture and extradition.

The article identifies Jason A. Reding Quiñones, described as a relatively inexperienced federal prosecutor and Trump loyalist, as leading the new effort in Florida.

The article also says he is overseeing an investigation into the "grand conspiracy" by Democrats that Mr. Trump has claimed.

The paper characterizes that claim as fantastical and says Mr. Trump has made it without evidence.

Note: the article content available here was truncated, and details such as the specific charges sought, the timeline for indictments, and further documentation of the inquiry’s scope are not included in the provided text.