Salazar Reminds State Department Official to Hand Over Communications Between U.S. Embassy in Havana and MadWoman

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Western Hemisphere Subcommittee Chairwoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) reminded the third in command at the Biden State Department to send her office all communications between the U.S. Embassy in Havana and MadWoman, the small business (MIPYME) contracted by the Embassy that fired a young man for protesting the Cuban dictatorship on his personal social media account.

“It occurs that the U.S. Embassy in Havana hired a company called MadWoman, a supposed independent ‘MIPYME’ that fired an employee for criticizing the Castro regime on social media,” said Chairwoman Salazar. “To fully understand the relationship between the Embassy and Madwoman, my office must be allowed to review all their shared communications. I have yet to hear a response.”

On February 16, 2024, Chairwoman Salazar sent a letter to President Biden criticizing the partnership between the U.S. Embassy in Havana and MadWoman. In the letter, Salazar was adamant about the dangers of doing business with “independent MIPYMEs” in Cuba, many of which are linked to or do the bidding of the communist regime. She finished the letter by demanding the Embassy cancel all contracts with MadWoman and that all communications between both parties be turned over to her office by April 1, 2024.

As of today, the State Department has not sent over any of the communications that Chairwoman Salazar requested. At a hearing examining the State Department’s compliance with congressional oversight, Salazar reminded the senior Biden Administration official that this matter is of utmost importance to her constituents, many of whom make up the Cuban exile community.

To watch the Congresswoman’s full line of questioning, click here.

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