May 31, 2005
U.S. lawmakers met Venezuela's Justice Minister

(Associated Press) - "Five U.S. lawmakers met Venezuela's Justice Minister, holding talks amid tension over the case of a Cuban exile held by U.S. authorities and wanted in Venezuela for trial in the 1976 bombing of a Cuban jet. (...)

The five U.S. lawmakers visited as part of a regional tour, arriving from El Salvador and planning to travel to Colombia. They included Republican Reps.Tom Davis and Frank Wolf of Virginia, and Candice Miller of Michigan, and Democratic Reps. Carolyn Maloney of New York and C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger of Maryland (...)

Chacón told reporters after the meeting the case of detained Cuban exile Luis Posada Carriles, who Venezuela wants to try in the 1976 bombing of a Cuban plane that killed 73 people, was briefly discussed.

'We told them that we are close to presenting the extradition request ... we hope that once they have the file in their hands, the extradition proceeds,' said Chacón. 'Besides, he is a fugitive from justice.'

Posada, a naturalized Venezuelan and former CIA operative, allegedly plotted the bombing in Caracas. He was acquitted twice and escaped from prison in 1985 while his case was on appeal. He is being held by U.S. immigration authorities and has denied wrongdoing. The 77-year-old Posada is due to have an immigration hearing in the United States on June 13".