Duval Times

Former U.S. ambassador Manuel Rocha, identified as a spy for the Cuban regime, recently pled guilty to anti-American espionage. The extent of Rocha’s activities included various crimes, constrained by statutes of limitation that require charges within specific timeframes. Cases like Rocha's, where crimes remain undiscovered for years, highlight the need for stronger deterrents against foreign infiltration in the U.S. government.

In response, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), John Cornyn (R-TX), and James Lankford (R-OK) have introduced the Strengthening Prosecution Integrity for Espionage Statutes (SPIES) Act. This legislation aims to deter espionage by removing the statute of limitations on such offenses.

“America must do everything in its power to deter its enemies, including spies seeking to harm our nation and threaten our interests through espionage activity. Many bad actors are not punished for their crimes due to the existing statute of limitation for certain offenses. My SPIES Act would ensure foreign agents are punished for aiding foreign governments against the United States, regardless of how many years have passed,” stated Senator Rubio.

Senator Cornyn added, “Espionage is a serious crime, and foreign agents stealing sensitive information can cause immense harm to the United States and our interests. This legislation would help crack down on espionage-related crimes by eliminating the statute of limitations, which will help ensure that perpetrators can be brought to justice no matter how much time has passed.”

Senator Lankford emphasized accountability: “Spies who target our nation’s national security should be held accountable, no matter how long ago it happened. Oklahomans want to know bad actors will face consequences. The SPIES Act ensures every spy knows America will never stop pursuing them.”

Previously, Senator Rubio sent a letter to U.S. Department of State Secretary Antony Blinken regarding the damage caused by Rocha but did not receive a response.