Senator Felix Bautista said on the El Sol de la Mañana radio talk show on 13 June 2018 that back in 2015 he was sanctioned by the United States with the removal of his visa. He said he does not have bank accounts in the United States.
What is new now is that the US Embassy has publicly announced the removal of the visa to him and his offspring. He says the media display is political, now that the former President has begun his campaign to win the PLD presidential nomination for the 2020 presidency.
Bautista accompanied President Leonel Fernandez on the campaign trail on Sunday, 10 June 2018. The former President had announced he would start his campaign for the 2020 nomination in August, but gave it an early start on Sunday.
The senator for San Juan de la Maguana said: “No one doubts that Leonel is the political to beat in 2020, but I cannot tie his growing popularity on the streets with the decision of the United States. Personally, I can’t”, he said during comments made on the El Sol de la Mañana morning talk show.
As reported in Hoy, the senator made the statements responding to speculations that due to his known close ties to the former President, the United States froze his bank accounts and suspended his visa, that of himself, his wife Sarah Haydee Rojas Peña, and that of his children, including Félix Ramón Bautista Abreu, Félix José Bautista Abreu, Félix Miguel Bautista Soler, Félix Fidel Bautista Grullón, and Yanilssa Bautista Bencosme, and others that are minors.
He said he would not resign his position as secretary of organization of the PLD until there is a court ruling against him. He said he would appeal the US decision.
Over the years, Bautista has maneuvered in such a way that cases of corruption against him have been shelved in the Dominican judiciary.
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Hoy
Listin Diario
Acento
14 June 2018
