Convicted FARC Commander Ricardo Palmera Must Not Be Released

WASHINGTON – Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL), Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and Congressman Carlos Curbelo (R-FL) sent a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch following reports that the Obama Administration might be considering whether to permit convicted FARC commander Ricardo Palmera to leave federal prison in the United States for "negotiations" in Havana between the FARC, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, and the Santos Administration. Palmera is the most senior member of the FARC to be captured and convicted, and is currently serving a 60-year sentence in a maximum-security prison in Colorado.

"Today, we sent a letter to Attorney General Lynch asking whether the Department of Justice will facilitate the early release of Ricardo Palmera, a commander of the FARC terrorist organization who was convicted and sentenced to sixty years in federal court for his role in the hostage-taking of three innocent Americans.

"Unfortunately, President Obama has a history of releasing the most dangerous terrorists and convicted felons imprisoned by the United States, such as the Taliban Five and Gerardo Hernandez, Antonio Guerrero, and Ramon Labanino, and he has repeatedly conceded to America's enemies to the detriment of our key national interests. In light of these capitulations, it is important that the American people and the Congress are informed as to whether President Obama's Justice Department will facilitate the release of this convicted terrorist to appease the FARC and the dictators in Havana."

To read the letter, please click here.