WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is demanding answers from Cuba about eight of more than 100 people it says are political prisoners held by the communist government.
In an open letter to Cuba’s foreign minister, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says Cuba has refused to respond to multiple U.S. queries about the eight who he said were illustrative of political prisoners in Cuba. The list includes members of dissident groups and a journalist.
He accused Cuba of reneging on promises to release them and other prisoners of conscience.
Pompeo sent the letter last week but the State Department released it on Tuesday after Cuba rejected it in a statement released a day earlier. Cuba’s foreign ministry says the letter was “propaganda” and the U.S. has no standing to raise such concerns.
