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José Basulto, founder of Brothers to the Rescue, expressed himself as “skeptical” about reports that the Trump administration is preparing a formal charge against Raúl Castro for the downing of two planes from the organization on February 24, 1996, which resulted in the death of four Cuban Americans.
"I remain skeptical until the point at which action is taken, and the action to take is the criminal prosecution of Raúl Castro, who gave the orders, and all those who cooperated with Raúl Castro for the murder," Basulto declared in an interview for Telemundo 51 from his home in Miami.
The 85-year-old activist, one of the most recognized leaders of the Cuban exile community in the United States, survived the attack but lost four companions: Mario de la Peña, Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., and the legal resident Pablo Morales, all of Cuban descent.
The Associated Press reported on Friday, citing three anonymous sources familiar with the matter, that the United States Department of Justice is preparing a federal criminal charge against Castro, 94 years old, who was the Minister of the Armed Forces of Cuba in 1996.
According to the Miami Herald, formal charges could be filed on May 20 at an event at the Freedom Tower in Miami, in response to pressures from the Cuban exile community.
In response, President Trump requested on Friday that “the Department of Justice should comment on it”, neither confirming nor denying the information.
Basulto acknowledged his belief that justice will be achieved, although with bitterness over the time that has passed: "I trust that justice will indeed be reached, albeit a distant justice, because I repeat, so much time has been allowed to pass: delegated justice, denied justice. I believe this should have happened a long time ago."
The case was reactivated in March 2026, when the Florida Attorney General reopened the criminal investigation into the shooting down of the planes, and Florida Republican lawmakers —Carlos Giménez, Mario Díaz-Balart, María Elvira Salazar, and Rick Scott— formally pressured the Department of Justice to prosecute Castro.
Senator Lindsey Graham also supported the initiative and described the 1996 attack as “cowardly and despicable.”
Asked whether Castro could face the same fate as Nicolás Maduro —captured by the United States on January 3 in Caracas following a formal accusation from the Department of Justice—, Basulto responded: "Anything is possible, but that would need to be directed to Mr. Trump's administration, as they are the ones making those decisions."
The activist also expressed skepticism about the negotiations between Washington and Havana, which include Raúl Castro's grandson, and stated that change in Cuba would only come with direct intervention: "There is no possibility for business there. Cuba does not have business with the United States. The United States will have to take unilateral action, and then we will know what it is, we will know whether to applaud or whistle."
Reports regarding the possible indictment emerge at a time of intense pressure on the Cuban regime, with expanded sanctions, the oil blockade ordered by Trump, and a severe social crisis that in recent days has led to protests, noise demonstrations, and the burning of garbage containers on the island.
I hope to have enough years left to see a free Cuba, Basulto stated at the end of the interview.
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