Representative Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), a prominent Cuban-American lawmaker, is calling for federal investigations—including possible treason charges—against Democrats and liberal activist groups accused of helping the communist Cuban regime evade U.S. sanctions.
In a wide-ranging interview with the *John Solomon Reports podcast* on Just The News, published Friday, Malliotakis stated that members of Congress providing assistance to Cuba should face scrutiny from both the Treasury Department and the Department of Justice. "Look, I personally think they need to be investigated for treason," she declared, referencing the only crime America's founding fathers explicitly defined in the Constitution.
Malliotakis's explosive remarks follow a politically charged controversy surrounding Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who recently returned from a congressional delegation trip to Cuba. At a Seattle press briefing, Jayapal admitted to working alongside foreign diplomats in an effort to help Havana secure oil shipments despite the Trump administration's tightened sanctions. Video of her remarks triggered widespread conservative criticism, with the White House accusing Democrats of colluding with "terrorists" and undermining U.S. foreign policy.
The New York congresswoman's call for investigations also coincides with escalating bipartisan tensions over Cuba policy. The Department of Justice recently indicted former Cuban President Raúl Castro, and Malliotakis suggested she believes U.S. military forces could potentially conduct an operation to capture and extradite him to face American justice.
Malliotakis, who proudly represents her Greek and Cuban immigrant heritage, has consistently advocated for hardline policies against the Cuban regime. She and her Cuban-American colleagues previously petitioned the DOJ to pursue criminal charges against Havana's leadership for crimes including harboring U.S. fugitives and supporting terrorism.
The congresswoman's treason accusation marks a dramatic escalation in congressional rhetoric over Cuba, potentially setting up further clashes between Republican hardliners and progressive Democrats seeking to ease U.S. restrictions on the island nation.
