Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland to proactively request that the extradition of the Colombian drug lord, Salvatore Mancuso, be denied.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro appointed Mancuso as the “peace manager” to negotiate with one of the largest cartels in the South American country, despite being found guilty in more than 1,500 murder or “forced disappearances” cases, according to Sen. Rubio’s press release.
Mancuso is currently serving time in prison in the United States.
Due to these circumstances, Sen. Rubio called Mancuso’s “peace manager” appointment, “problematic.”
“Mancuso’s appointment as a ‘peace manager’ is problematic, not least because he has been convicted by U.S. federal courts for drug trafficking and by Colombian courts for more than 1,500 cases of murder or forced disappearances. While he is currently incarcerated in the United States, he has yet to serve out any sentences for his Colombian convictions,” wrote Rubio.
Moreover, the Florida Senator believes he cannot be extradited until there is credible assurance that he will serve the sentences imposed upon him in Colombia, calling it “an insult to the thousands of Colombians” who are victims of Mancuso’s deeds.
“I, therefore, urge you to reject any request from the Colombian government for the extradition of Mancuso, until his appointment as a ‘peace manager’ is revoked, or there is credible assurance that Mancuso will serve the sentences imposed by Colombian courts,” Penned Rubio. “To allow Mancuso to not only walk free in Colombia, but also represent the Colombian government in negotiations with drug traffickers currently working to flood our communities with narcotics, would be an insult to the thousands of Colombians who are victims of Mancuso’s crimes.”
Additionally, Senator Rubio recently released an op-ed declaring that the United States must honor its security commitments to the Philippines or else “it will encourage Beijing to engage in hostilities.”
"If there is even a hint that the United States will not honor its security commitments to the Philippines or other treaty allies in Asia, it will encourage Beijing to engage in more hostilities to test our resolve. Americans have enough to worry about already. Adding the breakdown of the post-World War II order in Asia to their plates would mean an awful lot to swallow," Rubio stated.
Rubio's op-ed comes shortly after Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL) spoke on strengthening America's relationship with India against China, which has similarly suffered tensions with China on its Himalayan border.
