The Florida Attorney General announced the reopening of a criminal investigation into the downing of two aircraft from the organization Brothers to the Rescue in 1996, and its head, James Uthmeier, stated that he hopes to collaborate with the Trump Administration to ensure that those responsible “are held accountable.”
According to the intervention by the prosecutor, the reactivation of the case could even lead to formal charges against Raúl Castro.
Uthmeier confirmed the decision in statements to reporters, in which he explained that the case was reopened following the recent 30th anniversary of the tragedy.
The case refers to the attack carried out on February 24, 1996, when Cuban fighter planes shot down two civilian aircraft from Hermanos al Rescate in the Florida Straits, resulting in the deaths of four Cuban-American activists.
"It was a terrible tragedy where the planes of Brothers to the Rescue were shot down by the Cuban government. I don't believe that is up for debate," stated the Attorney General of Florida, according to the submitted document.
This formulation places the reopening of the process in a context of continuity with the historical complaints of the Cuban exile community and U.S. authorities regarding the responsibility of the Cuban regime in the attack.
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The official explained that years ago, a state-level file had already been opened to investigate potential crimes related to the case affecting residents of Florida.
However, he noted that during President Joe Biden's administration, that process was halted and progress ceased. "When this came to my attention, we reactivated the file. So yes, that investigation will continue," he stated.
Uthmeier added that currently there is a close working relationship between the authorities of Florida and the federal government of the United States, a situation that, he said, will allow for coordinated efforts.
In that context, he delivered the phrase that centralizes this new stage of the case: “we hope to work with the Trump Administration to hold those responsible accountable.”
Although he refrained from providing more details about the exact course of the investigation, the prosecutor made it clear that authorities will seek to establish responsibilities if it is confirmed that Florida residents were victims of crimes defined under state or federal laws.
"I can't say much more at this moment, but we will continue that investigation," he stated.
This reopening is connected to a renewed political and symbolic momentum in South Florida.
Recently, on the 30th anniversary of the shooting down of the planes, the Cuban exile community once again called for Raúl Castro to be prosecuted for the deaths of the four crew members.
At a commemorative event held in the southern part of the state, several Cuban-American congress members joined the victims' families to remember the attack and reiterate their call for justice.
The Floridian lawyer Willy Allen explained to CiberCuba that it would be legally possible to file a case against Raúl Castro in the United States for those events, which occurred in international waters north of Havana.
However, Allen found it very difficult for that process to be realized in practice.
According to the text, the lawyer expressed that, although he would like to see high-ranking officials of the Cuban regime being prosecuted, he does not believe it is likely to see Raúl Castro or the generals allegedly involved being brought to New York to face justice, despite the death of four people, including three American citizens and a resident.
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