Three Republican senators are demanding that the Justice Department turn over its investigative file on Alex Saab, who is said to have been the head of financial intermediation between Venezuela and Iran.
President Biden pardoned Saab, 52, in December as part of a broader prisoner exchange that resulted in the release of 10 Americans. Prior to his pardon, Saab was to stand trial on money laundering charges.
“Saab remains an unrepentant criminal who, within days of his release from U.S. custody, launched a propaganda campaign aimed at discrediting our country and our nation's justice and law enforcement professionals. ” Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and James Risch (R-Idaho) wrote in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland.
“The State Department describes Saab as 'one of our two most important funds.'” [men] “Within the Maduro regime” and “an intermediary” between the regime of President Nicolas Maduro and Iran, the largest state sponsor of terrorism, the senators said he is allegedly trying to evade sanctions against Iran. I wrote this with a focus on suspicion.
Upon his release, Saab was welcomed by Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who claimed he had been tortured while awaiting extradition.
Saab, a Colombian-born businessman, was indicted by Bogota's attorney general's office in 2019 after a lengthy investigation, but ultimately missed his surrender date.
Then American prosecutors he claimed to have been leaked Venezuela gave approximately $350 million to the United States and participated in a bribery scheme involving affordable housing contracts.
Authorities arrested him while refueling in Cape Verde and extradited him to the United States in 2020.
The three Republicans called for transparency on the issue and demanded that the investigation file be submitted by February 7th.
“Court filings make clear that Saab has confessed to serious criminal conduct.” [sic]” they continued. “ [US] The case against Alex Saab is closed…there is no basis for withholding evidence against Saab from the American public. ”
Particularly interesting seems to be Saab's “confession.'' He is said to have met with the Drug Enforcement Administration before his arrest.
In 2022, his legal team claimed he assisted U.S. authorities in uncovering corruption under the Maduro regime. Associated Press reported. Mr Saab denied this.
The Justice Department declined to comment.
Biden last month gave the green light for the release of Leonard Francis, known as “Fat Leonard” for his serve and 350-pound girth. The deal comes shortly after the Biden administration reinstated Trump-era sanctions.
As part of the deal, Venezuela agreed to release 10 American prisoners of war and 21 imprisoned opposition politicians in the country.
