Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is supporting former Miami mayor Tomas Regalado to head a federal office in charge of Radio and TV Martí, the U.S. response to Cuba’s state-run media.
Radio and TV Martí is controlled by the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB), a part of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which has seen multiple directors resign in the past two years. The most recent, Andre Mendes, left at the end of March this year after New York Democratic Rep. Eliot L. Engel accused him of taking part in an alleged "coup" at the BBG, which Mendes has denied, according to the Miami Herald.
His predecessor, Malule González, resigned after heavy criticism from Cuban exiles who said they were being censored, according to the Herald.
Regalado, a Republican, has been critical of President Donald Trump in the past for his immigration rhetoric, but came to support his policy towards Cuba, as opposed to the policy of Trump’s predecessor, former President Barack Obama.
"I was very critical of Obama’s policy toward Cuba," Regalado said in a text message to Politico.
"Since I do agree with this president I thought I should apply," for director of the OCB, "and I did," Regalado added.
Last year, after Rubio and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart worked with Trump to shape his policy on Cuba, Regalado helped the White House choose a venue in Miami to announce the decision to reverse Obama’s policy towards the island nation.
Regalado also confirmed to Politico that Rubio, who he’s known since 1996, is recommending him for the position. Politico’s sources close to the senator confirmed his support, noting that Rubio respects Regalado for his views on Cuba and his work as a print and radio reporter.
"The mission of TV and Radio Martí as mandated by Congress is to inform the people in Cuba about what is happening on the island and about the island in the world and also to inform and explain to them U.S. policy towards Cuba," Regalado said. "I know the mission of Radio and TV Martí and I agree and support the president and this administration’s Cuba policy."
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