Duval Times

On September 19, 2024, Senator Rick Scott introduced the Securing Timely Opportunities for Payment and Maximizing Awards for Detaining Unlawful Regime Officials (STOP MADURO) Act. The proposed legislation aims to increase the maximum reward from $15 million to $100 million for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. This reward would be funded by seized assets from Maduro, his regime officials, and their co-conspirators, rather than taxpayer money.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in South Florida and its federal law enforcement partners have reportedly seized approximately $450 million in assets related to high-level regime officials. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz are spearheading companion bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives with support from several other representatives.

Senator Scott stated, “The time has come for Venezuela to be liberated from the illegitimate regime of dictator Nicolás Maduro... My STOP MADURO Act will increase the maximum reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of Maduro to $100 million, using seized assets instead of U.S. taxpayer money... I urge my colleagues to support this bill.”

Senator Marco Rubio added, “The U.S. must do more to arrest narco-dictator Nicolás Maduro... this legislation builds on that call by increasing the reward for his arrest to $100 million.”

Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart emphasized that since the July 28th elections where Edmundo González was elected President by Venezuelan voters, “the Maduro regime has only escalated its brutal repression... arbitrary detentions, torture, and politically motivated persecution – have intensified under Maduro's oppressive rule.” He criticized the Biden-Harris Administration's approach towards sanctions on Venezuela.

“Instead of easing sanctions,” Díaz-Balart said, “the Biden-Harris Administration should stand in solidarity with the Venezuelan people in their fight for freedom by increasing this bounty and strengthening sanctions.”

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