US Cuba Raul Castro
Audience members give a standing ovation as Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, center, speaks at an event where federal prosecutors announced charges against former Cuban President Raul Castro in the 1996 downing of civilian planes operated by Miami-based exiles, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Miami. Also shown, from left, are, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier; Jason A. Reding Quiñones, U.S. attorney for the southern district of Florida; Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega; Sen. Ashley Moody, R-Fla.; and FBI Deputy Director Christopher Raia.
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Federal prosecutors have announced charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro in the 1996 downing of civilian planes operated by Miami-based exiles. The announcement was made Wednesday as the Trump administration escalated pressure on the socialist government. The indictment was related to Castro’s alleged role in the shootdown of two small planes operated by the exile group Brothers to the Rescue. Castro was Cuba’s defense minister at the time. The charges included murder and destruction of an airplane. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and other top Justice Department officials made the announcement in Miami at a ceremony to honor those killed in the shootdown.
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