Florida revives a long-dormant probe into Raul Castro over 1996 shootdown of exile group's plane

"When this came to my attention, we reactivated the files. So yes, that investigation will be ongoing. I can't really say too much more at this point, but we are going to continue this investigation. I know a lot of members of the state legislature and other people here in Florida would like to see some resolution and ideally account."

"We believe unequivocally that Raul Castro is responsible for this heinous crime. It is time for him to be brought to justice. In recent weeks, as the 30th anniversary of the February 1996 shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue planes approached, several Miami Republicans, as well as Florida Sen. Rick Scott, have called on the Trump administration to reopen its criminal investigation."

"In a letter to Trump on Feb. 13, lawmakers including Reps. Maria Elvira Salazar and Carlos Gimenez highlighted decades-old news reports indicating that Castro - the head of Cuba's military at the time - gave the order to shoot down the unarmed Cessna aircraft."

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced the reopening of a criminal investigation into former Cuban leader Raul Castro's involvement in the February 1996 shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue planes. The investigation had been previously closed during the Biden administration. The renewed focus comes as the 30th anniversary of the incident approaches and amid Trump's increasingly aggressive stance toward Cuba's communist leadership. Miami Republicans and Florida Senator Rick Scott have called for the Trump administration to reopen its federal investigation, with lawmakers asserting that Castro, who headed Cuba's military at the time, ordered the shooting down of the unarmed Cessna aircraft. Uthmeier stated that accountability is necessary if crimes against Florida citizens were committed.

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