North Miami-Dade News

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar (R-FL), chair of the Western Hemisphere Subcommittee, reminded the third-ranking official at the Biden State Department to send all communications between the US Embassy in Havana and MadWoman, the small business contracted by the Embassy that fired an employee for speaking out against the Cuban dictatorship on his personal social media account.

"It happens that the US Embassy in Havana hired a company called MadWoman, a supposed 'independent SME' that fired an employee for criticizing the Castro regime on social media," said Congresswoman Salazar. "To fully understand the relationship between the Embassy and MadWoman, my Office must be allowed to review all their shared communications. I am still waiting for a response."

On February 16, 2024, Representative Salazar sent a letter to President Biden criticizing the partnership between the US Embassy in Havana and MadWoman. In the letter, Salazar was firm about the dangers of doing business with "independent SMEs" in Cuba, many of which are linked to or follow the orders of the communist regime. She ended the letter demanding that the Embassy cancel all contracts with MadWoman and that all communications between both parties be delivered to her Office by April 1, 2024.

As of today, the State Department has not sent any of the requested communications to Congresswoman Salazar. During a hearing examining the State Department's compliance with Congressional oversight, Salazar reminded the testifying official that this issue is of utmost importance to her constituents, many of whom are Cuban exiles.

For the complete moment of the Congresswoman's questions, click here.